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A 
TRUE AND COMPLETE 

PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM; 

OR THE HISTORY OF THE 

WESLEYAN METHODISTS: 

INCLUDING 

THEIR RISE, PROGRESS, AND PRESENT STATE: THE LIVES 

AND CHARACTERS OF DIVERS OF THEIR MINISTERS : 

THE DOCTRINES THE METHODISTS BELIEVE AKD 

TEACH, FULLiY AND EXPLICITLY STATED ; 

WITH 

THE WHOLE PLAN OF THEIR DISCIPLINE, 

THE DIFFERENT COLLECTIONS 

Made among them, and the application of the monies 
raised thereby ; 

AND A DESCRIPTION OF 
CLASS-MEETINGS, BANDS, LOVE-FEASTS, &c. 

ALSO, 

A DEFENCE OF METHODISM, &e. 

BY JONATHAN 1 CROWTHER, 

Who has been more than 31 years a member, and above 26 
years a Travelling Preacher among them. 

TO WHICH IS ADDED, 

&mtte Sintetegtmg ©ocumentg 

INSPECTING THE EXTENSION OF THEIR RELIGIOUS 

PRIVILEGES, BY A LATE ACT OF THE BRITISH 

LEGISLATURE. 



L New-Fork: ^ 

PUBLISHED BY DANIEL HITT AND THOMAS WARE, FOR THJ6 242TH0- 
DIST CONNEXION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



: 



J. C. Totten, printer. 
1813, 



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PREFACE, 



It appears to me that a book resembling this is great- 
ly wanted. Many talk, and some write about the Me- 
thodists, without properly understanding the subject. — 
Some wish for clear specific information upon it, but 
cannot obtain this, without reading more books than 
their time will admit of. 

Many members of our Societies know very little of 
our history, have very imperfect ideas of our doctrines, 
and are still more ignorant respecting some parts of our 
discipline- 
It is of importance that our friends, and even our ene- 
mies, should be able to procure a book, and that as cheap 
and portable as possible, which may serve as a book of 
reference, containing a true, clear, and full account, of 
a people who have attracted so much public attention, 
and who have been so variously represented. 

I have not, knowingly, misrepresented any thing 
which I have treated upon. And my sources of infor- 
mation have been the very best. 

The idea I have formed of the necessity, and general 
utility of such a Work, makes me wonder that no person 
has published one upon the same plan long before this 
time. The purchasers may rest assured, that this Por- 
traiture shall be so complete as not to disappoint any 
reasonable expectation. I wish to do good : and may 
God assist and succeed my well-meant endeavours. 

But, whatever may be my motives for publishing this 
Work, or whatever may be the execution of it, I am 
not to expect that I shall escape the general lot of au- 
thors* With, or without reason, objections will be rais- 



& PREFACE* 

ed. " Yes," says one, " the Defence of Methodism, es- 
pecially, is ill timed." But is not this objection as ill ti- 
med ? and without foundation too ? If ever it be season- 
able for people to defend themslves, it is when slanders 
and misrepresentations are multiplied ; and when a storm 
of persecution is apparently gathering. It would indeed 
be ill-timed to sound an alarm of danger before there is 
any just grounds of apprehension : and equally ill-timed 
when it is blown over, or has so far advanced that it 
cannot be averted. In old times, it was when danger 
was approaching, and while it might possibly be averted, 
that God's watchmen blew the trumpet in Zion, and 
sounded a solemn alarm. I think the last chapter of 
this book " A word in season*" 

I have said enough towards the conclusion of this 
performance, to convince the reader that I think too 
highly of the king, and have too much confidence in 
his goodness, to apprehend any danger from him. — 
Methodism, Toleration, &c. are public matters, and 
matters of general concern. As such, I think every 
man has a right to deliver his sentiments upon them, 
and that in the freest and fullest manner. This must 
be the privilege of those who are particularly interested. 

I shall only add, that this Work is solely my own per- 
sonal undertaking; and that no man, or number of men, 
have employed me in it. And, having made this a- 
vowal it will then be quite unnecessary for any man, 
or number of men, to disavow any thing contained in it. 
I seek not, nor ever did, the patronage or protection of 
any person. But men of integrity, and even God him- 
self, will avow the truth, at the great decisive day. 

' J. CROWTHER. 

Halifax, April 4, 1811. 

< 



CONTENTS, 

CHAPTER I. 

A short History of Methodism, 

page 
Account of Mr. Wesley's ancestors - - 13 

< Bartholomew Wesley - - 13 

John Wesley, sen. - - 13, 14 

Dr. Annesley - - - 15 

Matthew Wesley - - - 16 

■ Samuel Wesley ih. 

Mrs. Susanna Wesley - - 18 

Mrs. Wright - - - - 10 

Mrs. Hall 20 

■* Samuel Wesley, jun. - - ib„ 

— , R e v. John Wesley - - 22 

his early education 23 

, his piety at Oxford ib. 

— — — origin of the term Me- 
thodist - - ib. 24 

~ ■ — goes to America. - 25 

' account of the Germans 

his fellow-voyagers 26 
arrives at Savannah ib* 



Moravians' manner of electing bishops - 27 

Mr. Wesley labours in America - - ib. 

Returns to England 28 

Account of his labours in various places - 29, 30 

Goes to Hernhuth in Germany 30 

Returns to England 31 

Account of several Conferences - 33, &c. 

Interesting letter from Dr. Doddridge *> 34 

Persecution of the Methodists at Cork - 35 

Another in Staffordshire and other places 36, 39 
Death and Character of John Jane, one of the first 

Methodist preachers - - 39 
Marriage and separation of Mr. Wesley from his 

wife * - - - ib. 40 
A 2 



6 CONTENTS. 

Page 
Letter from Mr. Whitefield - - - 41 

Mr. Wesley's epitaph on himself 42 

Revival of religion in Ireland 43 

Letter from Mr. Wesley to Mrs. Fletcher, on female 

preaching - - - - 45 

Numbers of the Methodists in 1 767 - ib.' 46 

Progress of Religion in America - - ib« 

Vindication of Mr. Wesley's minutes - 47 

Mr. Wesley executes the deed of declaration 49 

Dr. Coke's address to the Methodists in Great 
Britian and Ireland, on the settlement of 
preaching-houses 50 

Attested copy of the deed of declaration, and estab- 
lishment of the Methodist conference 53, 62 
Dr. Coke and Mr. Asbury appointed superintend- 
ents of the Methodists in America * 63 
In what cases service is allowable in church-hours ib. 
Mr. Wesley ordains preachers for England only 64 
Numbers of the Methodists in 1 790 - 65 
Death of Mr. Wesley ib. 
His character, talents, qualifications, and useful- 
ness considered - - - 66, 76 
His person, and dress - - - 76 
His private life, and liberality - - 77, 78 
His disinterestedness - - - 79 
Remarks on his opinions ^ - - 80 
Account of sundry conferences, subsequent to Mr. 

Wesley's death - - 81 
Differences on the subject of religious liberty ib. 
Disputes at Bristol 82 
Secession of Mr. Kilham and others - 83 
Address from the Irish to the English conference 84 
Numbers of the Methodists 1 799 - - 85 
Proceedings of the fifty-ninth annual conference ib. 86 
of the sixtieth to the sixty-sixth con- 
ference - - - - ib. 88 
Decree of the Master of the Rolls, relative to the 

Brig-house chapel - - ' - 90 

Comparative numbers of the Methodists, from 1 770 

to 1799 - ■ - - - 91 



CONTENTS. 7 

Page 
Account and character of Mr. Charles Wesley 92, 94 

of the Rev. Mr. Fletcher - 94, 100 

his epitaph - - - ib„ 

new anecdots of Mr. Fletcher 101, 102 

of the Rev. Mr. Grimshaw, and his min- 
isterial labours - - 102 — 114 

k of Thomas Maxfield - 1 1 4—1 1 5 

- of John Nelson - - 115—125 

. of Christopher Hopper - 1 25—1 29 

of Joseph Cownley - 129—133 

of Thomas Hanby - 133—137 

of Captain Webb - - 137—138 

of Thomas Mitchell - 1 38—1 42 



CHAPTER II. 
The Doctrines believed and taught by the Methodists, 



On the object of worship - - - - 143 
Extract from Mr. Wesley's sermon on the Trin- 
ity • 143—145 

The authenticity of 1 John v. 7. examined 145, 146 

ipn the divinity of Christ - - - 146,148 
Extract from Dr. Coke T s sermon on the same 148 — 151 

The creation 151,152 

The fall of man, and original sin, and Mr. Wesley's 

sentiments thereon - - - 152—- -155 

Salvation only through Christ - ib. 

Mr. Wesley on the righteousness of Christ - 156 

. — on the plan of salvation - 158—160 

on ti ie wav { tjj e ki n gd om 160, 161 

on the nature of faith - 161, 162 

- — - on the nature of justification and saac- 

tification 163 — 164 

* — - on the privileges of believers - 1 65 

on the witness of the Spirit 166 — 1 70 

on the fruits of the Spirit 170 — 172 

the nature of the new birth, sanctifica- 



tion ? and good works> illustrated 1 72 — 1 79 



S CONTENTS* 

Fag€ 
The Bible the only rule of practice - - 1 79 

Sundry controverted doctrines - - - 180 
Absolute and unconditional election denied 131 

Mr. Wesley on predestination - - 181 — 1'83 

Doctrine of the Methodists on general redemption 183 

* on the falling of the regenerate ib. 1 84 

Mr. Wesley on the perseverance of the saints 185-189 
The covenant of grace explained - 189—191 

Doctrine of the Methodists on marriage , ib. 

on obedience to the government - ib. 

— on the observance of the sabbath - 192 

on the visible church of Christ - - ib. 

— on baptism - - - - - 193 

- on the Lord's Supper - - - 194 

— on separate spirits - - - - 195 

Mr. Wesley on hell torments - - 195 — 20a 

& — . the day of judgment - 201—203 






CHAPTER. III. 

The Discipline of the Methodists. 

Origin of the Society's rules - - 203 

Copy of the rules of the united societies 204 — 207 

of additional rules - - 207 

Receiving members into the society - 208 

Excluding members from the society - ib. 

On strangers being present at society-meetings, and 

love-feasts - 209 

Of service in church-hours - - - ib. 

Administration of baptism, & the Lord's supper 210—21 1 
Of conformity to the world, and sabbath-break- 
ing - - 211—212 
Marrying with unbelievers - - 212 
Bankruptcies - ib. 
Loyalty to the King and government - - ib. 
Days of fasting - 213 
Rules relating to the officers of the societies - ib. 
Appointment or change of stewards and leaders ife, 



CONTENTS* 9 

Page. 
Local preafchers a^d their meetings - - 214 
Concerning trustees - - - - - ib. 

Quarterly meetings, and their business - - 215 
On taking usury - ib. 

Rules of the band societies - 216 — 218 

General mode of public worship - - 213 223 

Prayer-meetings 223 

Meeting of the penitents .... 224 

Admission into the society - ib. 

Class-meetings - .... 225 

Form of the class-paper - ib. 

Appointment and office of class-leaders - 226 

Stewards' and leaders' meetings - - 227 

Quarterly meetings ----- 228 

Local preachers, their qualifications and office 229 

Travelling preachers, their qualifications, and du- 
ties - 230—233 
Advices to them - - - 233—235 
The office of a superintendent - 235 — 237 
General office of a preacher - - 237 
Giving of the tickets - - - ib. 
Forms of the class and band-tickets - - 238 
Love-feasts - 239 
Watch-nights ... 240 
Circuits, districts, and district meetings 240—244 
The duties of the stationing committee - 244 
Conferences, their meetings and business 245— -249 
Preachers' salaries - 249 — 250 
Preachers' fund - - - 250 — 252 
The general collections ib. 
Collection for Kingswood school - - ib. 
Nature of that institution - • 253 
Yearly subscription - - 254 
Collection for the missions - - 255 
Subscription to the preachers' fund - - ib. 
Trustees - - - - - 256 
Settlement of chapels - - - - 257 
Rules, observed in the building of chapels - 258 
Outlines of the trust-deed - - 258—260 
Committee for guarding the priviliges of the Metho- 
cjists - • * - 260 



10 CONTENTS. 

Page 
Miscellaneous supplemental regulations 261— 264 

The book-trade - - - 264 

Mr. Wesley's last will and testament 266 — 268 

Catalogue of Books, published chiefly by Mr. Wes- 
ley - - - - 269—278 
Number of the Methodist chapels 278—279 
Chronological list of the present itinerant preach- 
ers - - - - 280—288 
Alphabetical list of preachers who have died in the 

connexion - - - 288 — 291 

_ — of preachers, who departed from the 

work, or were expelled - - 290~295 



CHAPTER IV. 

Methodism defended; being an answer to some objections 
to the Methodists, with remarks on Toleration, and a 
vindication of the principle of universal and equal liber- 
ty in matters of Religion. 

■ c 

Objections against Methodism refuted - 297 

1. Its necessity demonstrated - - ib. 29$ 

2. The preachers shown to be duly qualified and ap- 

pointed - 299 — 300 

3. And sufficiently learned - - 302 — 303 
Discussion of the necessity of classical literature ib.-ib. 
List of books, recommended to preachers - 303 
How far regular education is needful - 304 — 308 

4. Usefulness of the Methodic t preachers 308 — 309 
The Methodists do not oppose the Established 

Church - - 309—310 

Curious anecdote of a clergyman - - ib. note 
Anecdotes of the loyalty and bravery of some Metho- 
dists .... 311—312 
Demonstration of impolicy of governments indulging 

any species of persecution - 312 — 31 5 

Considerations on religious liberty - * - 315 
Toleration defined - ib. 

Force unsuited to the propagation of religion 31 (i 



CONTEXTS. 11 

Page 
Intolerance, a disgrace to any natioa - 316-317 
Illustration of the nature of toleration - 318 — 320 
The right of free religious worship, asserted 320 &c. 
Extract from Magna Charta - - - 320 

Remarks on the impiety of one clause thereof ib. 

The rights of civil governors defined - 321- — 323 
Remarks on Lord Sidmouth's bill - - 324 

Refutation of the inconsistent charges, brought by the 

clergy against the methodfets - - 326 

Their doctrines are those of the established church 327 
The alarm, on the increase of Methodism, proved to be 

unnecessary - 327 — 329 

Impolicy of Lord Sidmouth's bill, proved - 32& 

Its oppressive tendency shown - 330 — 331 

On the influence of Methodism, - - ib. 

1 . On its own members - - ib. 

2. It contributes to promote mental improvement 332 

3. And to improve the temporal circumstances of 

those who embrace it - ib. 

4. 5. Its influence on society at large - ib. 

6. Benevolent institutions among the Methodists 333 
Strangers' Friend, and Preachers' Friend Societies, 

and Sunday Schools - - - ib. 

7. Beneficial moral effects on the united kingdom 334 
Interesting anecdote of his present Majesty *. ib. 



APPENDIX 

Letter from the General Committee to the Superin- 
tendents - - - - 336—34Q 

Archbishop of Canterbury's Speech on Religious 

Toleration - - 340 — 341 

Mr. Perceval's Letter to Mr, Butterworth 342 — 343 

The Judgment of Lord Ellenborough in the Court of 
King's Bench, &c. ... ib. — 347 

Letter from the General Committee, to the Superinten- 
dents - - 347~349 

Mr. Rosenhagen's Letter to Mr, Butterworth ib. 



X% CONTENTS. 

Letter of Thomas Allen, Solicitor, to Mr. Perce- 

ral - 349 — 351 

Resolutions passed by the General Committee, 352—35 7 
Letter from Mr. Butterworth - - 357—360 

Letter from the General Committee to the Superintend- 
ents ..... 362—374 
Act, passed 29th July 1812, relating to religious wor* 
ship, &c. ... . 375—383 



TRUE AND COMPLETE 
PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 

CHAPTER I. 

A SHORT HISTORY OF METHODISM. 

THE father and founder of Methodism was the Rev. 
John Wesley. He was the son of the Rev. 
Samuel Wesley, Rector of Epworth, in Lincolnshire^ 
and was born the 1 7th of June, old stile, in the year 1 703. 
I have heard him say, that he was baptized by the name 
of John Benjamin ; that his mother had burried two 
sons, one called John and the other Benjamin, and that 
she united their names in him. But he never made use 
of the second name. 

Many persons will be gratified with some account of 
Mr. Wesley's ancestors. And as far as any account of 
the family can be traced back, it appears they were 
conspicuous for piety, and respectable on account of 
their learning. Bartholomew Wesley, Mr. John Wes- 
ley's great Grandfather, was educated at one of our uni- 
versities, and afterwards held the living of Allington, in 
Dorsetshire. Along with near two thousand other wor- 
thy clergyman, he was ejected by the act of Uniformity, 
in 1662. He studied physic at the university, as well as 
divinity: a practice which had been frequent, and which 
was not then fallen wholly into disuse. He preached 
occasionally after his ejectment, but applied himself 
chiefly to the practice of physic. He had a son, called 
John, who died before him, and whose death expedited 
his own. John Wesley, of whom I am now speaking, 
studied at Oxford, and took the degree of Master of Arts. 
There are no certain accounts of the time of his death, 
or of his age at that time. He was a person of early 

B 



1% A TKUE AKD COMPXETE 

and exemplary piety. He began to preach when twenty- 
two years old, and was fixed at Whitchurch, in Dorset- 
shire, in 1 653. After the Restoration, some persons gave 
him much trouble, because he would not read the book 
of Common Prayer. They made heavy complaints of 
him to the Bishop of Bristol. Mr. Wesley waited on 
him, when an interesting conversation took place, which 
Calamy published, and which the late Mr. Wesley has 
inserted in his Journal. The Bishop was so far satis- 
fied, as to assure him he wx>uld not meddle with him. 
However, he had enemies, who seized him on the Lord's- 
day in the beginning of 1 662, before the act of Unifor- 
mity cou}d eject him, and he was committed to prison at 
Blandford. He was soon liberated from confinement, 
But yet bound over to appear at the next assizes, where 
he came off better than he expected. God raised him 
up several friends, inclined a solicitor to plead for him, 
and so restrained the wrath of man, that the judge, 
though a very passionate man, did not say an angry word. 
After this he preached every Lord's-day, till August 
1 7, when he delivered his farewell sermon, to a weeping 
audience, from Actsxx. 32. October the 26th, the place 
was declared vacant. On the 22d of February, 1663, 
he removed to Melcomb : but the corporation made an 
order against his settlement there, imposing a fine of 201. 
upon his landlady, and 5s. per week upon him, to be 
levied by distress. He went next to Bridgewater, and 
then to Ilminster and Taunton, where he met with great 
kindness from the several denominations, and had fre- 
quent opportunities of preaching. And here he got 
many friends, who were afterwards very kind to him 
and his numerous family. A gentleman allowed him 
to live rent free, in a house at Preston, two or three 
miles from Melcomb. He went to it with his family in 
the beginning of May, and continued to live there till 
he died. He had thoughts of going to America, but 
determined to remain in his native land. A number of 
serious people at Pool gave him a call to be their 
pastor; in which situation he continued to the day of 
his death. The Oxford act compelled him to withdraw 
for a season from his family at Preston, and from his 
charge at Pool. But he preached wherever he came* 
if he could get a congregation* And after some tame 



3?0RTXtAITURE OF METHODISM. 15 

he returned home, and renewed his labours in the min- 
istry. But he was often disturbed ; several times ap- 
prehended, and four times imprisoned ; once at Poo! 3 
for half a year ; once at Dorchester, for three months : 
the other confinements were shorter. He was in many 
straits and difficulties, but was wonderfully supported 
and delivered. It is supposed that he died about the 
year 1670. But the vicar of Preston Avould not suffer 
him to be burried in the church. 

From the grandfather of the late Mr. Wesley, en the 
father's side, we may turn to his grandfather on the mo- 
ther's side, who was the Rev. Samuel Annesley, LL. D. 
He was born at Killingworth, near Warwick, 1620, of 
religious parents, and was their only child. It has been 
said, that he was the first cousin to the Earl of Anglesey, 
In his infancy he was strongly impressed with thoughts 
of being a minister, for which his parents intended him 
from his birth. And when about five or six years old, 
he began a practice, which he continued afterwards, of 
reading twenty chapters in the Bible every day. 

He lost his father when he was only four years old. 
But his mother took care of his education, and had con- 
siderable property to enable her so to do. At the age of 
fifteen he went to the University at Oxford, and took 
his degrees in the usual course. His piety and diligence 
attracted considerable notice while at Oxford. 1 n 1 644, 
he was ordained as chaplain of the ship called the Globe, 
under the earl of Warwick, then Lord High Admiral of 
England. He went to sea with the fleet, out not liking 
i t, he quit it, and settled at Cliff, in Kent. But he 
met with great opposition. His predecessor had been 
displaced for associating with the people on the Lord's- 
day to drink, dance, &c. Such a people naturally loved 
such a minister. They rose upon Dr. Annesley with 
spits, forks, and stones, and threatened to kill him. But 
he was firm, and resolyed to stay with them, till God 
had prepared them by his labours to receive a good suc- 
cessor. He lived as he ought, and laboured hard ; and 
in a few years the people were greatly reformed, and 
became exceedingly fond of him. But a signal provi- 
dence directed him to a settlement in London, 1652, by 
the unanimous choice of the inhabitants of the parish of 
St. John the Apostle* goon after he was made lecturer 



±6 A TRtJB AND COMPLETE 

of St. Paul's, and in the year 1658, the parish of Crip* 
plegate was favoured with his settlement there. 

He was a man of great integrity and disinterestedness. 
He was displaced from his lecture, because he would 
Bot comply with some things he thought to be wrong. 
All parties acknowledged him to be an Israelite indeed. 
But hessuffered much for nonconformity: and such was 
the persecuting party-spirit, that an angel from heaven 
would have been persecuted, had he been a Dissenter, 
In his sufferings God often appeared remarkably for him, 
and one person was struck dead while signing a warrant 
to apprehend him. 

As a minister, his labours were abundant. His ser- 
mons were instructive and affecting, and he spoke from 
the heart. And, in some degree, the care of all the 
churches was upon him. He was very useful in getting 
good and useful ministers to such places as wanted them. 
He was sometimes the chief, and in sundry instances, 
the sole instrument in the education, as well as the sub- 
sistence of young ministers. And innumerable were 
the instances in which he visited and relieved the father- 
less and the widows in their affliction. He was enabled 
to say upon his death-bed, " Blessed be God, I can say, 
I have been faithful in the ministry above fifty-five years.'* 
He had enjoyed a constant peace within, and an assu- 
rance of God's favour to him, for more than thirty years 1 
and this was not in the least clouded in his last illness* 
He died full of peace, praise, and joyful hope. 

Mr. John Wesley, of whom we have spoken before, 
left two sons, Matthew and Samuel ; of the rest of his 
children we have no account. Persecution having 
greatly reduced the family, these two brothers must 
have experienced difficulties; but their industry sur- 
mounted all obstructions, and they rose to useful and 
respectable situations in life. Matthew followed the 
example of his grandfather, in studying physic ; and 
by his medical practice acquired a handsome fortune. 
Samuel, the father of the late Mr. John Wesley, was 
born about 1662, or, probably a little before that time. 
It is thought he could not be more than eight or nine 
years old when his father died. His attachment to the 
Dissenters was first shaken by a defence of the death 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. ±7 

of Charles the First, and the proceedings of the Calf & 
Head Club. These things shocked him. Yet it is cer* 
tain, that the major part of the Dissenters disapproved 
of them as much as he did. After spending some time 
at a private academy, when sixteen years of age, he 
walked to Oxford, and entered himself of Exeter Col- 
lege. He possessed no more money than 21. 16s. nor 
any prospect of future supplies, except from his own 
exertions. Probably by assisting the younger students, 
and instructing those who chose to employ him, he 
supported himself till he took his Bachelors degree, 
without any other assistance, except a present of five 
shillings. He increased his stock to 10/. 15s. went to 
London, was ordained deacon, and obtained a curacy. 
A year after he was made chaplain on board the fleet. 
After filling this situation for one year only, he return- 
ed to London, and was a curate for two years. Du- 
ring this period he married, and had a son born. And 
lie wrote several pieces, which brought him into notice 
and esteem. A small living was given him in the 
country ; and the friends of King James promised him 
preferment, if he would comply with the king's desire, 
in supporting measures in favour of popery. But he 
absolutely refused to read the king's declaration in fa- 
vour of popery ; and though surrounded with courtiers, 
soldiers, and informers, he preached a bold and pointed 
discourse against it, from Dan. iii. 17, 18. He most 
cordially approved of the Revolution of 1683, and was 
the first who wrote in defence of it. This work he 
dedicated to Queen Mary, consort of William the 
Third. She presented him to the living of Epworth, 
in Lincolnshire, about the year 1693; and in 1723, the 
living of Wroote was given him in addition. He held 
the living of Epworth more than forty years ; and had 
Queen Mary lived much longer, it i3 probable he would 
have had some more conspicuous situation, for which 
he was amply qualified. He was a constant preacher, 
a diligent visitor of the sick, and carefully watched 
over all who were committed to his care. But this 
did not divert him from literary pursuits ; and his most 
favourite study was the holy scriptures, He wrote a 
commentary, in Latin, on the book of Job. and many 

b 2 



18 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

other things. He was possessed of considerable poetic 
talents : but, what is far more important, he was a man 
©f genuine piety ; and was firmly attached to justice, 
mercy, and truth. His integrity was conspicuous, and 
his conduct uniform, and that in various trying situa- 
tions in life. And when his sons, John and Charles, 
were pursuing a course of piety at Oxford, which would 
apparently militate against their preferment, he en- 
couraged them to go on, wishing them to make Mo- 
ses's choice, Heb. xi. 25. Though he had but a small 
income for a large family, yet still he had always some- 
thing to give to the needy. In conversation he was 
grave, yet instructive, lively and full of anecdote, and 
this talent his son John possessed in a very high de- 
gree. In his last moments, he displayed much resig* 
iiation and fortitude. He appeared full of faith, peace, 
and steadfast hope. He was free from the fear of death, 
and desired his children about him, to let him hear 
them talk of heaven. 

Mrs. Susannah Wesley, the mother of the late Mr. 
John Wesley, was the youngest daughter of Dr. Samu- 
el Annesley 5 and a few years younger than her husband. 
She was trained up in the doctrine and discipline of 
the Lord, and was early under religious impressions : 
she searched into the evidences of religion, and exam- 
ined the controversy between the Dissenters and the 
established Church ; and displayed a great concern for 
the instruction and welfare of her children. She was 
a woman truly devout. About the year 1700, she 
made -a resolution to spend one hour, morning and eve- 
ning, in private prayer and meditation. And this res- 
olution she sacredly kept ever after, except when sick- 
ness "prevented, or something absolutely indispensable 
obliged her to shorten the time. And when opportu- 
nity offered, she some times spent a little time in these 
exercises at noon also. At those seasons she often 
wrote down her thoughts on different religious subjects. 
Meantime she was very diligent in business, and ex- 
ceedingly attentive to the concerns of her family. Ail 
her employments were well arranged, by which she sa- 
ved much time, and kept her mind from distraction and 
perplexity r She bad uo fewer than nineteen children y 



PORTRAITURE OE METHODISM. 19 

and ten of these, at least, grew up to be educated ; they 
all received the first parts of their learning from her ; 
and, probably, they could not have had a better instruct- 
or : disapproving of the common methods of governing 
and instructing youth, she adopted others which she 
thought more rational. Every thing, their rising and 
going to bed ; their dressing, eating, and exercise ; were 
all regulated by rule, except in case of sickness. They 
were early impressed with the propriety of entire obedi- 
ence to their parents. As soon as they could speak, they 
were taught the Lord's prayer, and to repeat it at going 
to, and rising out of bed ; and as they grew older, they 
were taught to pray in a larger way. She made it a 
rule, never to attempt to teach them to read, till they 
were five years old. As soon as they knew their let- 
ters, they were first put to spell, and read one line ; and 
then a verse ; always taking care to be perfect in their 
lesson, as they w r ent on. 

Mrs. Wesley ever discharged the duties of a wife, and 
a mother, with the greatest punctuality and diligence. 
The letters she wrote to her sons, when they were at 
college at Oxford, give a very favourable view, both of 
her piety and knowledge. But though a woman of pie- 
ty, she had not a clear idea of justification by faith, and 
the direct witness of the Spirit, till near her latter end, 
which kept her from enjoying those comforts which 
would otherwise have been her portion. However, at 
last, she was filled with peace and joy in believing, and 
left the world with cheering prospects of eternal happi* 
ness; she had no doubt or fear, nor any desire, but to 
depart and be with Christ August 1st. 1 742, Mr. John 
Wesley committed the body of his mother to the earth, 
in BunhilMields burying-ground, opposite to which 
stands the New Chapel, City-road, and where himself 
is now buried. 

Mrs. Wesley had several daughters. Their educa- 
tion was carefully attended to, and most of them had 
fine poetic geniuses, but especially Mrs, Wright ; she 
was her mother's tenth or eleventh child. It has been 
said, that when she was not more than eight years of 
age, she could read the Greek Testament. She was 
so gay and sprightly, witty and humorous, that her pa- 



SO A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

rents felt pain and fear concerning her, especially as 
she was sometimes betrayed into little inadvertencies., 
which in some measure contributed to her unhappiness 
in future life. She experienced a disappointment, and 
soon after was married to another person, no way 
adapted to make her happy, and by whom she was un- 
kindly treated. Her situation preyed upon her spirits ; 
her health gradually declined ; and she sunk into such 
a degree of melancholy as made her truly wretched. 
Most of the verses written by her, which have been pre- 
served, were written during this period, and though good 
poetry, bear evident marks of deep bodily and mental 
affliction. But after passing many years in this gloomy 
state, she obtained those comforts of religion, which 
soothed her mind, and gave her peace ; though she 
never fully recovered her bodily health. After perse- 
vering in a course of piety for some years, patient in 
suffering, and waiting in joyful hopes of a better coun- 
try, on March 21, 1751, she died in the Lord. Mr. 
Charles Wesley preached her funeral sermon, from 
Isa. lx. 20. Thy sun shall no more go down ; neither 
shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be 
thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall 
be ended. 

Another of Mr. Wesley's sisters w r as married to a 
Mr. Hall, who was one of his pupils at Oxford, and 
supposed- to be an upright and pious man. But, after 
some years, he deserted his wife, and led an abandoned 
course of life. Mrs. Hall bore her trials with remarka- 
ble patience and resignation. She outlived all her sis- 
ters and brothers, and died between four and five months 
after Mr. John Wesley, on the 12th of July, 1791, in 
peace and joyful hope. 

Mr. Samuel Wesley, junior, was older than Mr. John 
Wesley, almost eleven years, and sixteen older than 
Mr. Charles. He was sent to Westminster School in 
1 704, and admitted a king's scholar in 1 707. Before he 
left home, his mother had diligently and successfully 
taught him the knowledge of religion, and his mind was 
brought under religious impressions. When at school, 
she wrote to him, to put him in mind of his obligations 
to devote himself to the service of God, especially as be 



PORTRAITURE 01? METHODISM, 21 

was intended, by his own choice, for the Christian min- 
istry. She advised him to be diligent in his studies, and 
to go through his employments methodically. She told 
him, that when she was at her father's house, she used 
to allow herself as much time for recreation, as slie spent 
in private devotion ; not that she always spent so much, 
but gave herself leave to go so far, but no farther : and 
she fixed so much time for sleep, eating, company, &c. 
" Begin and end the day,' 1 said she, " with him, who is 
the Alpha and Omega ; and if you really experience 
what it is to love God, you will redeem all the time you 
can for his more immediate service." Be very strict in 
observing the Lord's-day. In all things endeavour to 
act upon principle, and do not live like the rest of man- 
kind, who pass through the world like straws upon a 
river, which are carried which way the stream or wind 
drives them." When senior scholar a< Westminster, the 
Bishop of Rochester, the predecessor of Atterbury took 
him to his seat, at Bromley, in Kent, to read to him in 
the evenings. But as he was then eagerly pursuing his 
studies, what would have gratified many, greatly mortifi- 
ed him. His mother's advices were duly attended to by 
him, and he retained his sobriety, the fear of God, and 
consequently a regard for religion. 

In 1 711, he was elected to Christ-Church, in Oxford, 
and here also was deemed an excellent classical scholar. 
After, and perhaps before, he had taken his degree of 
Master of Arts, he was sent for to officiate at Westminster- 
school ; and soon after he took orders, under the patron- 
age of Dr. Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, and Dean 
of Westminster. He became a wise and able preacher, 
and his conduct was exemplary, both as a Christian and 
a minister, He had a nice sense of honour ; was a man 
of great integrity, and greatly hated falsehood and du- 
plicity : he was very humane, and of a charitable dis- 
position; and was remarkable for filial affection, and 
duty to his parents. 

He was greatly esteemed by Lord Oxford, Bishop 
Atterbury, Mr. Pope, and several other persons of the 
first character and literary talents. 

Bishop Atterbury had incurred the hatred of the 
prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and the rest of the 
ministry, by opposing their measures. And on the 24 tte 



22 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

of August, 1722, he was apprehended, under an accu* 
sation of being concerned in a plot for subverting the 
got ernment, and bringing in the pretender. Mr. Wesv 
ley's intimacy with him, made Walpole dislike him also. 
Yet Samuel was not disaffected to the present reigning 
family. And as he probably considered Bishop Atter- 
bury as being innocent, his friendship for him remained 
unaltered. This his attachment to Atterbury, and his 
personal disapprobation of Walpole's administration, 
blocked up his way to preferment at Westminster. He 
left the situation in 1 732, and became Master of the free 
Grammar-School, at Tiverton, in Devon, and presided 
Over it till he died. In 1735, he published a quarto 
volume of poems, for which he obtained a numerous and 
respectable li3t of subscribers* Several of these are very 
witty and satirical, as well as instructive, and some of a 
grave and serious description. 

He was, however, a very high churchman, and had 
objections to extempore prayer. Hence he disapproved 
of the conduct of his brothers, John and Charles, when 
they became itinerant preachers. Several letters passed 
between him and his brother John, both on the doctrines 
which he taught, and his manner of teaching them. 

His health was not good when he left Westminster, 
and it was not much improved by his removal to Tiverton. 

On the night of the 5th of November, 1 739, he went 
to bed, apparently as well as usual ; was taken very ill 
about three in the morning, and after four hours ill- 
ness, died at seven. 

When we survey Mr. John Wesley rising into public 
notice, and having sprung from such a venerable stock 
of ancestors, both on the side of his father and his mother, 
and surrounded with such respectable brothers and sis- 
ters, we feel our minds prepared for something great and 
good, beyond what is common : and when we proceed 
to remark his education, and his religious instruction 
particularly, we shall see the best foundation laid for use- 
ful knowledge, and genuine Christianity. 

There has been some difference in the accounts given 
of his age, by different persons of the family ; but the 
following certificate of it, was sent by his father to the 
bishop, before he was ordained priest. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 2o 

"Epworth, August 23, 1728. 
<• John Wesley, M. A. Fellow of Lincoln College, 
was twenty-five years old the 17 th of June last, having 
been baptized a few hours after his birth, by me. 

" Samuel Wesley, 
" Rector of Epworth." 

He was educated for the church : and in 1 720, he 
entered a student, at Christ-Church College, in Oxford, 
and not long after, took his degree of Bachelor of Arts* 
He was ordained Deacon, September 19* 1725, by Dr. 
Potter, Bishop of Oxford. March 17, 1726, he was 
elected Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. February 
14, 1727, he took his degree of Master of Arts. Sep- 
tember 22, 1723, he was ordained priest, by the same 
bishop by whom he had been ordained deacon. 

He soon became very thoughtful and pious. This 
was considerably promoted by reading Bishop Taylor's 
Rules and Exercises of Holy Living, and Mr. Law's 
Serious Call to a Holy Life. His example and advice, 
under God, induced his brother Charles, who was also 
at College, to become pious. They gave great attention 
to reading books of devotion, prayed much and fervently 
and received the Lord's Supper every week. Others 
imbibed the same spirit, and associated with them for 
the purpose of piety. They regulated their time and 
employments by certain rules, which accidentally got 
them the nickname of Methodist. And as the disciples 
of Christ were first called Christians in Antioch, so 
John Wesley and his followers, were first called Meth- 
odists at the University of Oxford. 

it is well worthy of attention, that this name of 
Methodist, which was orriginally given in derision, has 
since been contended for by the Arminians and Cal- 
vinists, as being peculiarly honourable ; while others 
have gone as far as conscience would permit, and per- 
haps sometimes a little farther, to escape what they 
deemed an odious appellation. 

The founders of the Methodists, were students at the 
University of Oxford, and were first called the Sacra* 
mentarians, then the Godly Club, and finally Methodists. 
A Fellow of Merlon College, observing the regular 



24 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

method in which they divided their time between their 
devotions, their studies, their rest, &c. said, " Here is a 
new sect of Methodists sprung up," alluding to an emi- 
nent college of physicians at Rome, who were so called 
on account of putting their patients under a peculiar 
regimen. See Mosheime's Eccles. Hist. 1 7 Cent. Sec. 
2, p. 1. But it is not generally known, that the name 
of Methodist had been given long before the days of Mr. 
Wesley, to a religious party in England, which was 
distinguished by some of those marks which are suppo- 
sed to characterize the present Methodists. A person 
called John Spencer, who was librarian of Sion Col- 
lege, 1657, during the protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, 
in a book which he published, consisting of extracts 
from various authors, speaks of the eloquence and ele- 
gance of the sacred Scriptures, and asks, " where are 
now our Anabaptists, and plain pack-staff Methodists, 
who esteem all flowers in rhetoric in sermons no better 
than stinking weeds ?" By the Anabaptists, we know 
that he means a denomination of Christians, which is 
still in existence ; and though we have not at this time 
any particular account of the Methodists of that day, it 
seems very probable that one description of Religion- 
ists, during that fertile period, was denominated Metho- 
dists. These, it would seem, distinguished themselves by 
plainness of speech, rejecting the aids of literature, and 
the ornaments of eloquence in their public discour- 
ses. This might have been known to the Fellow of 
Merton College, who gave the Oxonian Pietists the 
name of Methodists, though it seems probable Mr. 
Wesley never caught the idea. See Spencer's Things 
New and Old, p. 161. A. D 1658; or the beginning of 
the third volume of the History of the Dissenters. 

In 1732, this pious company were joined by Mr. 
Benjamin Ingham, and soon after, Mr. James Hervey, 
and Mr. George Whitefleld, were added to the number. 
These were all collegians, and must be considered as 
t}ie first Methodists, But how greatly has this mustard- 
$eed grown and spread! Mr, Wesley says, "In 1729, 
my brother and I reading the Bible, saw inward and 
outward holiness therein, followed after it, and incited 
others so to do, In 1737, we saw that thi? holiuess 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. %0 

tomes by faith, and that men are justified before they 
are sanctified. But still holiness was our point, inward 
and outward holiness" 

His first sermon delivered extemporary, was in All- 
Hallow's Church, Lombard-street, London, in the be- 
ginning of the year 1735. At that time, and for years 
after, to preach without a book was considered as a very 
wonderful thing. 

In 1735, he was prevailed upon to go as a mission^ 
ary to Georgia, in America. In the ship in which he 
crossed the Atlantic Ocean, he became acquainted with 
the Moravians. By them he was taught the way of the 
Lord more perfectly, particularly, that holiness comes 
by faith. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 14, 1735, Mr. Wesley, his brother 
Charles, Mr. Benjamin Ingham, and Mr. Delamotte, 
son of a merchant in London, took boat at Gravesend, 
in order to embark for Georgia. Their motive in leav- 
ing their native country was not to gain riches or hon- 
our, but to glorify God. 

He began to learn the German language, in order to 
converse with the Moravians, six and twenty of whom 
were in the ship. On Sunday the 19th, he preached 
extemporary, and then administered the Lord's Supper, 

After they got to sea, their common way of living 
was this : from four to five in the morning, they em- 
ployed in private prayer. From five to seven they 
read the bible together, carefully comparing it with the 
writings of the earliest ages. At seven they breakfast- 
ed ; and at eight had public prayers. From nine to 
twelve, Mr. Wesley usually learned German, his bro- 
ther Charles wrote sermons, Mr. Delamotte learned 
Greek, and Mr. Ingham instructed the children. About 
one they dined. From dinner to four, they spent ia 
reading to such, as each of them had taken into a sort 
of charge, or in taiking seriously to them. At four were 
evening prayers; when either the second lesson was 
explained, (as it always was in the morning), or the 
children were catechised and instructed. From five to 
six they again used private prayer. From six to seven 
he read in their cabin to two or three of the passengers, 
(about eighty of whom were on board,) and each of hk 

c 



■26 A TRUE AND COMPLETE, 

brethren did the same to a few more in other cabins 
At seven he joined with the Germans in their public 
service ; and Mr* Ingham read between decks to as ma- 
ny as desired to hear. At eight they met again to ex- 
hort and instruct one another. Between nine and ten 
they went to bed, and neither the roaring of the sea, 
nor the motion of the ship, could deprive them of the 
refreshing sleep which God gave them. 

In an early part of their voyage they encountered 
three storms, and the third was a very violent one, 
" The waves of tlie sea were mighty, and raged horribly. 
They rose up to the heaven above, and clave down to 
hell beneath." After prayers they spent two or three 
hours in conversing suitably to the occasion, confirming 
one another in a calm submission to the wise, holy, and 
gracious will of God. And now a storm did not appear 
so terrible as before. 

Mr. Wesley had before observed the great seriousness 
of the Germans, as well as their humility, meekness, 
and patience. He had now an opportunity of seeing 
how far they were delivered from the spirit of fear.— ~ 
When in the midst of the Psalm with which their service 
began, the sea broke over them, and split the mainsail 
in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the 
decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed them 
up; a terrible scream began among the English; but the 
Germans calmly sung on. Mr. Wesley afterwards ask- 
ed one of them, "Were you not afraid?" He answer- 
ed, "I thank God, No." Mr. Wesley asked, "But 
were not your women and children afraid ?" The Ger- 
man mildly replied, " No ; our women and children 
are not afraid to die." From the Germans Mr. Wesley 
went to the crying and trembling English, and pointed 
out to them the difference, in the hour of trial, between 
him that feareth God, and him that feareth him not. 

After falling in with the skirts of a hurricane, and 
encountering another storm, on the 5th of February 
they arrived safe in the Savannah River, and cast an- 
chor. The next morning, about eight o'clock, they 
first set foot on American land. Mr. Oglethorpe, the 
governor of the Colony, and with whom they had 
crossed the Atlantic Ocean, led them to a rising ground, 
where they all kneeled down to return thanks to God* 



POUTRAITLRE OF METHODISM. %T 

The house in which Mr. -Wesley and his companions 
were to reside not being ready, they took up their lodg- 
ings with the Germans, " We had now," says Mr ? 
Wesley, " ail opportunity, day by day, of observing 
their whole behaviour. They were always employed, 
always cheerful, and in good humour one with anotherv 
They had put away all anger, strife, wrath, bitterness, 
clamour, and evil speaking. They walked worthy of 
the vocation Wherewith they were called, and adorned 
the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. 1 ' Again, 
says Mr. Wesley, " After several hours spent in con- 
ference and prayer, they proceeded to the election and 
ordination of a bishop. The great simplicity, as well 
as solemnity of the whole, almost made me forget the 
seventeen hundred years between, and imagine myself 
in one of those assemblies, where form and state were 
not; but Paul the tent-maker, or Peter the fisherman 
presided ; yet with the demonstration of the Spirit and 
power. 11 

Sunday, March the 7th, he entered upon his ministry 
at Savannah, by preaching on the epistle for the day, 
1 Cor. xiii. His congregations and prospects were at 
first very encouraging, and he was ready to form very 
sanguine expectations as to the success of his labours. 
He bestowed part of his labours upon Frederica ; and 
upon one occasion especially was in very great danger 
of losing his life by drowning between that place and 
Savannah. 

Not finding any door open for the prosecution of the 
grand design which induced him to go to America, the 
conversion of the Indians, he and his companions con- 
sidered in what way they might be the more useful to 
their charge at Savannah. And they agreed, 1st. To 
advise the more serious among them to form themselves 
into a sort of little society, and to meet once or twice a 
week in order to improve, instruct, and exhort one ano- 
ther. 2. To select out of those a smaller number for 
a more intimate union with each other. It is very pro- 
bable that this plan was adopted from a similar one 
which they saw among the Germans ; and here was 
the origin of Classes and Bands among the Methodists, 
and which have been so useful to thousands and tens 
of thousands. 



28 A TRtfE AND COMF£ET£ 

He wished to have gone to preach to the Indians, Bu$, 
the door did not open. But he says, " Thursday, July I, 
the Indians had an audience v and another on Saturday,, 
when Chicali their head man, dined with Mr. Ogle- 
thorpe. After dinner, I asked the grey-headed old man* 
"What he thought he was made for?" He said, "He that 
is above knows what he made us for; we know nothing. 
We are in the dark ; but white men know much ; and 
yet white men build great houses, as if they were to 
live for ever. But white men cannot live for ever. 
In a little time, white men will be dust as well as I.'* 
Mr. Wesley told him, " If red men will learn the good 
book, they may know as much as white men. But nei- 
ther we nor you can understand that book, unless we 
are taught by him that is above; and he will not teach, 
unless you avoid what you already know is not good." 
The Indian answered, " I believe that ; he will not 
teach us, while our hearts are not white. And our men 
do what they know is not good : they kill their own 
children. And our women do what they know is not 
good : they kill the child before it is born. Therefore 
he that is above does not send us tfie good book." He 
had several other interesting conversations with some 
of the principal Indians, which will he found in his first 
Journal. 

A Frenchman, who had been a prisoner of war for 
some months among these Indians, gave Mr. Wesley 
the following account of their manner of life. He said, 
" They do nothing but eat, and drink, and smoke, from 
morning till night, and in a manner from night till mor- 
ning. For they rise at any hour of the night when they 
awake ; and after eating and drinking as much as they 
©an, go to sleep again." And here is a true Delineation 
of the Religion of Nature. December the 24, 1737, he 
tailed over Charleston-bar, in the Samuel, Oaptain Pier- 
©y, and landed at Deal, on the 1st of February. Mr. 
Whitefield had just sailed for America, neither of them 
knowing any thing of the other's situation or designs. 

Mr. Wesley's departure from America was expedited 
by an event, which he does not fully explain in his Jour- 
nal, which has caused some to hesitate respecting the 
propriety of his conduct ; or at least that propriety which 
might be expected in so eminent a man. But his bior 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 29 

graphers, Dr. Coke and Mr. Moore, have thrown such 
light upon the affair, as must do away all suspicions 
with regard to the integrity of Mr. Wesley's conduct. 
It appears, a deep-laid scheme was designed to ruin him 
in the highest sense of the word. But his soul escaped 
as a bird out of the snare, and he held fast faith, and a 
good conscience. 

He arrived in London after an absence of two years 
and near four months. In the beginning of the second 
Journal, he says, " Many reasons I have to bless God, 
though the design I went upon did not take effect, for 
my having been carried into that strange land, contrary 
to all my preceeding resolutions. Hereby, I trust, he 
hath in some measure humbled me, and proved me, and 
shown me what was in my heart. Hereby I have bee$ 
taught to beware of men. Hereby I am come to know 
assuredly, that if in ell our ways we acknowledge God, 
he will, where reason fails, direct our paths, by lot or by 
the other means which lie knoweth. Hereby I was 
delivered from the fear of the sea, which I had both 
dreaded and abhorred from my youth. Hereby God 
has given me to know many of his servants, particularly 
those of the church of Hernhuth. Hereby my passage 
is open to the writings of holy men, in the German,,. 
Spanish, and Italian tongues, &c,V 

He had not been a week in London, before he fell in 
with Peter Bohler, a Moravian Bishop, just landed from 
Germany. With this man he became very intimate, 
and it was by him that he was convinced of the want of 
that faith whereby alone we arc saved. He immediately 
began to preach according to his new views, and the 
first person to whom he offered salvation by faith alone. 
was a prisoner, of the name of Clifford, under sentence 
of death,. It was with this man that Mr. Wesley first 
prayed extempore. After a space he rose up, and ea- 
gerly said, "I am now ready to die. I know Christ 
has taken away my sins, and there is no more condem- 
nation for me." The same composed cheerfulness he 
showed when he was carried to the place of execution 3 
and in his last moments he was the same, enjoying a 
perfect peace, in confidence that he was accepted in ihz 
Beloved. 

c 2 



3>Q A TRITE AND COMPLETE 

Mr. Wesley and his friends began to form themselves 
into a little society, as he and his pious friends had done 
before at Oxford, and afterwards in Georgia, arid agreed 
upon certain rules for their better regulation. He 
preached frequently in different churches, but generally 
gave offence by his doctrine, so that one church after 
another was shut against him. But, as yet, he had not 
that faith in Christ that brings peace and assurance, ac- 
companied with the Spirit of God witnessing with the 
spirit of the believers. But he soon obtained this ines- 
timable blessing. For one evening in May, he went 
to a Christian society in Aldergate-street, where one 
was reading Luther's Preface to the epistle to the Ro- 
mans. About a quarter before nine, says he, " while 
lie was describing the change which God works in the 
heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely 
warmed, I felt I did trust in Christ; Christ alone, for 
salvation ; and an assurance was given me, that he had 
taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the 
law of sin and death." 

Shortly after this, he determined, if God should peiv 
ifiit, to retire for a short time into Germany. He had 
formed this resolution before he left America. He ho- 
ped that some conversation with those holy men whom 
he expected to find at Hernhuth, who were themselves 
living witnesses of the full power of faith, and who yet 
knew how to bear with them who were weak, would 
contribute to his establishment in true religion, and also 
his progress and perseverance. He embarked at Lon-* 
don, June 13th, and on the 15th reached Rotterdam ift 
Holland. 

In travelling through Holland and Germany, he con- 
versed with, and was hospitably entertained by divers 
persons, who were happy partakers of the faith of the • 
gospel ; this was the c-ise, especially at Marienbourn, 
where he first conversed with Count Zinzendorf, aacL 
cither eminent witnesses of the power of true religion. 

On Tuesday, the first of August, they arrived at Hern- 
huth, a settlement of the Moravians, in upper Lusatia. 
Hernhuth is a village, and at that time containing about 
a thousand inhabitants, gathered out of different nations, 
having fled thither i% escape the pollutions ©f the worl^t 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM:. 31 

and that they might liv e wholly io God, in discipline, 
as well as in faith and practice ; here was a body of 
true primitive apostolic Christians. No immorality 
was allowed among them, and every branch of pure and 
undeftled religion was zealously enforced. Here Mr. 
Wesley conversed with divers persons of deep under- 
standing and experience m the things of God, and heard 
sundry of them preach, to his great edification, and the 
establishment of his soul in the truth as it is in Jesus. 
One of them gave him at his request, the following defi- 
nition of the full assurance of faith, " Repose in the 
blood of Christ; a firm confidence in God, and persua- 
sion of his favour; serene peace and steadfast tranquil- 
ity of mind, with a deliverance from fleshly desire, and 
from every outward and inward sin. In a word, the 
heart which before was tost like a troubled sea, was still 
and quiet, and in a sweet calm." These Moravian 
brethren claim kindred in a spiritual sense, with Martin 
Luther, John Calvin, and John Huss. Mr. Wesley's 
second Journal will give the reader much interesting 
information respecting the church at Hernhuth, and the 
school or academy at that place. 

In his return from Hernuth, he learnt that the Luther- 
ans, as well as the Papists, were great enemies to the 
Moravian brethren. He spent a night or two in Mentz, 
and an hour in the great church there, and copied from 
a paper on the door, what the following is a translation 
of. 

A full release for the poor souls in Purgatory* 

"His Papal Holiness, Clement the 12th, hath this 
year, 1738, on the seventh of August, most graciously 
privileged the cathedral church of St. Christopher im 
Mentz, so that every priest, as well secular as regular, 
who will read mass at an altar for the 3oul of a Chris* 
tian departed, on any holiday, or any day within the 
©ctave thereof, or on two extraordinary days, to be ap- 
pointed by the ordinary, of any week in the year, may 
each time deliver a soul out of the fire of purgatory ." 

After an absence of three months, he preached three 
times in London r on Sunday, Septe 17. And having 



32 A TRUE AND COMMUTE 

now passed through all the preparatory steps, and being 
every way qualified and prepared, the Lord soon led 
him forth in the way he intended him to go, and begun 
to work mightily by his instrumentality. 

In 1739, Mr. Wesley being denied the use of the 
churches in Bristol, preached for the first time in the 
open air, on an eminence in the suburbs of that city. — 
And the same year, the churches being shut against 
him in London also, he took his stand in Moorfields, 
and other public places. On the 12th of May, this 
year, the first stone was laid in Bristol, of the first Meth- 
odist chapel in England. November 11, this same 
year, he began to preach in a building in Moorfields, 
London, in which the King's cannon had formerly been 
oast, and was many years after this known by the name 
of The Foundry. It was just at this time that class- 
meetings were instituted, as we learn from the intro- 
duction to the rules of the society. However, it appears 
this institution did not get properly organized and estab- 
lished till the year 1742. 

April 9, 1742, the first watch-night was held in Lon- 
don. The custom originated with the colliers of Kings- 
wood, near Bristol, who had been in. the habit when 
slaves to sin, of spending every Saturday night at the 
ale-house. They now devoted that night to prayer and 
singing of hymns. Mr. Wesley hearing of this, resol- 
ved to make something like it general. At first, he or- 
dered watch-nights to be once a month, when the moon 
was at the full, and then fixed them once a quarter. In 
this year also, he began the quarterly visitation of the 
classes, which has been constantly and universally at- 
tended to ever since. At this visitation, each member 
Feceives a new ticket. 

It was on the 26th of May, 1 742, that Mr. Wesley ar* 
rived at Birstal, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, ha- 
ving been invited thither by that faithful and useful 
man, John Nelson. 

1 743, the rules of the society were first published. 

Even at this very early period of Methodism, Mr,* ,,, 
Wesley found an open door in many places in the dif- 
ferent parts of England and Wales. In the year 1 744, . 
he preached amvng other plaees, at Brentford, Marlb<? 



PORTRAITURE 0* METHODISM. S3 

$ough, Bath, Bristol, London, at many places in Corn- 
wall and Wales, at Gloucester, Stroud, Cheltenham, 
Tewkesbury, Evesham, Sheffield, Epworth in Lincoln- 
shire. Birstal, and other places in the West Riding of 
Yorkshire, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Durham, and other 
places in the North, at sundry places in Cheshire and 
Derbyshire, &c. 

During this year, he received some pleasing accounts 
of a revival of religion having broke out in the English 
army on the continent. 

In June 1744, the first conference was held in Lon- 
don. It consisted of six clergymen, and a few lay- 
preachers. But there was no annual publication of the 
minutes of the conference till the year 1763. On 
Christmas-day, 1744, Mr. Wesley drew up the rules of 
the bands. 

August 1, 1745, the second conference was held ia 
Bristol. 

Mr. Wesley not only studied and laboured hard, at 
the same time enduiing much unmerited reproach, but 
he passed through much fatigue and danger in his tra- 
vels. In his Journal, he tells us, that in the latter end 
«)f February, he preached at Nottingham. The next 
day, a friend piloted him through the mire, and water, 
and snow, to Sykehouse. Pioeeeding Bdri&ward, he 
found much snow about Borough-Bridge, which made 
him travel so slowly, that night overtook him when he 
had six or seven miles to go to the place where he had 
intended to lodge. The next day the roads were abun- 
dantly worse. The snow was deeper, the causeways 
were impassable, and there was such a hard frost suc- 
ceeding the thaw, that the ground was like glass. At 
that time, and for some years alter, there were no turn- 
pike-roads in those parts of England. He was often 
obliged to walk, it being impossible to ride. He pas- 
sed over dreary moors, which appeared great pathless 
wastes of white, till at length, late in the evening, he 
reached Newcastle. " Many a rough journey, (said 
he) have I had before ; but one like this I never had." 

May 13, 1746, the third conference was held in the 
same city. It consisted of the two Wesleys, two other 
clergymen, and of five lay-preaekers« 



54f A TRITE ANIJ COMPLETE 

About this time, Mr. Wesley received the following 
interesting letter from the candid and amiable Drv 
Doddrige. 

Northampton, July 29, 1746, 
u Rev. and dear Sir, 

" I am truly glad that the long letter I last sent was 
agreeable to you. I bless God, that my prejudices 
against the writers of the Establishment were so early 
removed and conquered. I greatly rejoice when I see 
in those whom, upon other accounts, I most highly es- 
teem as the excellent of the earth, that their prejudices 
against their brethren of any denomination, are likewise 
subdued, and that they are coming nearer to the har- 
mony, for which I hope, when we shall be one in Christ 
Jesus. 

" I have always esteemed it to be the truest act of 
friendship, to use our mutual endeavours to render the 
characters of each other as blameless and as valuable as 
possible* And I have never felt a more affectionate 
sense of my obligations, than when those worthy per- 
sons who have honoured me with their affection and 
correspondence, have freely told me what they thought 
amiss in my temper and conduct. This, therefore, dear 
sir, is an office which you might reasonably expect 
from me, if I had for some time enjoyed an intimate 
knowledge of you. But it has always been a maxim 
with me, not to believe any flying story, to the preju- 
dice of those whom I had apparent reason, from what I 
knew of them, to esteem. And consequently, as I 
should never make this a foundation, you must be con- 
tented to wait longer, before you will be likely to re- 
eeive that office of fraternal love, which you ask from, 
Rev. and dear Sir, 

Your obliged and affectionate 
Brother and Servant, 
P. Doddridge." 

k P. S. Your caution has suggested a thought to me, 
whether it be modest to call ourselves humble ? If the 
expression mean, a real readiness to serve in love in any 
thing low, as washing the feet of another, I hope I can 
say, I am your humble servant* but if it mean one who 



PORTRAITURE OF METHOBISM. 35 

is in all respects as humble as he could wish, God forbid 
I should arrogate to myself so proud a title! In what can 
I say, I have already attained? Only I love my Divine 
Master, and I would not have a thought in my heart 
that he should disapprove. I feel a sweetness in being 
assuredly in his gracious hand, which all the world can- 
not possibly afford ; and which I really think, would 
make me happier in a dark dungeon, than ten thousand 
worlds could make me without it. And therefore, I love 
every creature on earth that bears his image. And I do 
not expose those, who, through ignorance, rashness, or 
prejudice, have greatly injured me." 

June J 6, 1747, the fourth conference was held in 
London- It consisted of four clergyman and two lay- 
preachers. In this year Methodism began, in Ireland, 
in the city of Dublin. 

June 22, 1 748, thefifth conference was held in Bristol. 
It cannot be gathered with certainty, either from Mr. 
Wesley's Journals, or any other source of information, 
that there was a conference every year from this time till 
1763, and yet it appears that in some of those years 
there were two conferences. This year Kingswood 
.school was opened, for the education of preachers' chil- 
dren and others, though now it is wholly confined to the 
former. 

1750. In February, this year, a riotous and cruel per- 
secution commenced against the Methodists in the city 
of Cork. The mob was headed by one Butler, a ballad- 
singer, who was secretly encouraged by some of the 
magistrates. The grand Jury, at the next assizes, pre- 
sented Mr. Charles Wesley, seven travelling preachers^ 
and. Mr. Sullivan, who received the preachers into his 
house in Cork, as persons of ill flame, and prayed that 
they might be transported. But when the assizes came, 
the judge dismissed them all in the most honourable 
manner, without attempting to try them. 

In giving a history of the Methodists, however brie& 
something more may be thought necessary concerning 
the persecutions they have endured. And be it observ- 
ed, that all persecution does not consist in acts of vio- 
lence. A man may be persecuted by being slandered, 
■> defamed, and degraded. Of this species of persecution. 



36 A TRUE AND COMPXETK 

Mr. Wesley and his adherents have had as great a por- 
tion, as perhaps ever was the lot of any people upon 
earth. And though they are now better known, and 
the prejudices of many are removed, or at least softened^ 
yet it may still be said with great truth, " As for this 
sect it is every where spoken against." But the Meth- 
edists are neither surprised nor dismayed with this i 
rather, they consider it as an evidence of their being 
the people of God. They remember the words of their 
Saviour, who said, "Woe unto you, when all men speak 
well of you !" and " Blessed are ye, when men revile* 
and persecute, and say all manner of evil of you falsely." 
They know that as long as the seed of the woman, and 
the seed of the serpent have each an existence upon 
earth, there will be enmity between them ; and that 
" they who are after the flesh, will persecute them who 
are after the Spirit. This persecuting spirit has fre- 
quently produced acts of violence against the Method- 
ists. One very remarkable instance of this was at 
Wednesbury in Staffordshire. 

In 1743, a riotous mob committed acts of outrage and 
cruelty for several days together, and were encouraged 
so to do by the magistrates. Men, women with child, 
and even children, were evil-treated, knocked down, 
and abused with savage fury. Houses were stripped of 
their furniture, vast quantities of goods were carried off, 
feather-beds were cut in pieces and the feathers strewed 
in the streets. They broke open houses, pulled off 
some of the roofs, and destroyed many windows. A 
reverend gentleman said to the mob at Darlaston, after 
they had committed these outrages, " Well, my lads, 
he that has done it out of purs teal for the Church, I do 
not blame. But, my lads, I hope you will let us settle 
our affairs in our own parish ourselves ; nevertheless if 
these men should come, then your help will be needful" 
During all this, none of the neighbouring magistrates 
would exert their authority to quell these mobs, or pro* 
tect the Methodists. And when Mr. John Wesley 
came into that country, the Darlaston mob beset the 
house in which he was, and cried, " Bring out the min- 
ister." After some time he went out and said, " Here 
I am ; what do you want with me 2" They said, "To 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 

go with us to the justice," He told them, " That I will, 
with all my heart." So he walked before, and two or 
three hundred of them followed after, first to one justice, 
and then to another, but the justices made excuses, and 
would not be seen. Possibly one principal reason for 
this was, they knew the mob had no real accusation to 
bring against Mr. Wesley, and therefore an appearance 
before a justice must have ended in his release and the 
dispersion of the rioters. When this mob began to 
disperse, he fell into the hands of another, from WalsaJ, 
which came pouring in like a flood. They dragged 
him along, and when he attempted to go into a house, 
they pulled him back by the hair of the head, into the 
midst of the mob, who were as so many ramping and 
roaring lions. At length he was delivered, and receiv- 
ed far less injury than might have been expected ; so 
wonderfully did Providence watch over and defend him. 

A man of the name of Thomas Beard, against whom 
no crime was alleged, but that of being a Methodist, 
was pressed, and dragged away from his family, and 
marched to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where through fa- 
tigue and abusive treatment he fell sick of a fever. He 
was sent to the hospital, where he was bled; his arm 
mortified, and was cut off; and in two or three days he 
died. 

It was about the same time that John Nelson was 
pressed for a soldier, and marched along with the army 
tor many weeks ; he was sometimes confined in a dun- 
geon, and all this for no other crime real or pretended, 
but that he was a Methodist. 

The first effectual check that was given to this mob- 
bing, I believe was in London. Sir John Ganson, chair- 
man of the Middlesex justices, waited on Mr. Wesley, 
in the name of his brethren, to say, That the justices 
had orders from the government to do him and his friends 
justice whenever they should apply ; his Majesty being 
determined, that no man in his dominions should be 
persecuted for conscience sake. This reflects great 
honour upon the sovereign. But it w r as become abso- 
lutely necessary that something should be done to quell 
the increasing tumults. Of this necessity even the en- 
emies of the Methodists were made sensible. In Staf- 



oS A T&ITE AND COMELETE 

fordshire, the mob turned upon their employers, and 
threatened, unless they gave them money, to serve them 
as they had done the Methodists. And if they saw a 
stranger who had the appearance of a Methodist, they 
immediately attacked him. 

A Quaker happened to ride through Wednesbury, 
they swore he was a preacher ; pulled him off his horse, 
dragged him to a coalpit, and were with difficulty pre- 
vented from throwing him in- But he prosecuted them 
at the assizes, and from that time the tumults in Staf- 
fordshire subsided. 

After some years of persecution and oppression, hav- 
ing gained a few trials, they began to be more peremp- 
tory in demanding justice. But at the quarter sessions 
they were frequently disappointed. However, they 
traversed and appealed to the higher courts. They of- 
ten succeeded at the assizes, and almost always at the 
king's-bench. By degrees it became understood, that 
the Methodists had a right to liberty and protection, a3 
well as their fellow-subjects, and that they were deter- 
mined to claim these privileges. However, a little 
while before the death of Mr. Wesley, attempts were 
made in some parts of the kingdom to prosecute them 
under the conventicle act. But this was a measure so 
shocking to the candid and liberal part of the public, 
that it was soon abandoned, even by those whose spirit 
and principles were the most intolerant. 

In the year 1 793, there was ah outrageous and unpro- 
voked persecution at Great Bradneld, in Essex, forwhich 
several persons were tried before Judge Lawrence, at 
Chelmsford, in May, 1 794, when the cause of religious 
liberty triumphed over the spirit of persecution. There 
is much excellence in the laws of England, and perhaps 
nothing is so pure among us as the administration of 
justice at the assizes. 

It would be impossible, especially in the limits pre- 
scribed to this history, to give a full and explicit view 
of the persecution endured by the Methodists. A bio- 
graphical account of the preachers, properly written by 
themselves, would have contributed most completely to 
this. Some of them have written short accounts of 
themselves, which were published in the first volume of 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 39 

tae Arminian Magazine. These give us many tragical 
accounts of the dangers they have been exposed to, and 
the cruelties they have endured from savage bigotry, 
and misguided zeal. Not a few persecutors, however, 
have been brought, like Saul of Tarsus, to preach, and 
many more to embrace, the faith they once persecuted. 

What still awaits the Methodists they know not.— 
Flesh and blood would pray to be excused from perse- 
cution. But steady well-grounded faith, producing love 
to God, and a good hope of heaven, will not shrink from, 
or faint in any tribulation or distress for the sake of 
Christ. 

This year, 1 750, the seventh conference was held in 
Bristol. John Jane, one of the first Methodist preach- 
ers, died during this year. Another of the preachers 
sent Mr. Wesley the following account of his death : 
*? John Jane was never well after walking from Ep worth 
to Hainton, on an exceeding hot day, which threw him 
into a fever : but he was in great peace and love, even 
to those who greatly wanted love to him. He talked 
daily of the things of God. He was never without the 
love of God; spent much time in private prayer; and 
joined in prayer with the person in whose house he was. 
several times a day. On Friday, August 24th, grow- 
ing, as he thought, stronger in body, he sat in the even- 
ing by the fire-side : aboat six o'clock, he Tetched a 
deep sigh, and never spoke more. He lived till the 
same hour the next day, and then, without any struggle, 
or sign of pain, with a smile on his face, he passed away. 
His last words were, " I find the love of God in Christ 
Jesus." All his clothes, linen and woolen, stockings, 
hat, and wig, are not thought sufficient to answer his 
funeral expences which amount to \l. IT.?, 3c/. All the 
money he had was Is. 4rf." 

The eighth conference was held in the same place, in 
1751. And it was in the spring of this year, that Mr. 
Wesley paid his first visit to Scotland, being accom- 
panied by Mr. Christopher Ho;>per. It was also in this 
year the first disputes arose in the societies, concerning 
the propriety, or impropriety, of separating from the 
Church of England. 

It was in this year, (1751) that Mr. Wesley married, 
H For many years," says he, " I remained single, he* 



*0 A T»UE AND COMPt'ETfi 

£ause I believed I could be ihore useful in a single than 
in a married state. And I praise God, who enabled me 
so to do. I now as fully believed, that in my present 
circumstances, I might be more useful in a 'married 
state." His marriage, however, was not what is com- 
monly called a happy one. This arose, probably, at 
least in some degree, from his peculiar situation with 
respect to the great work in which he was engaged. 
It was agreed between him and Mrs. Wesley, previous 
10 their marriage, that he should not preach one sermon, 
or travel one mile the less on that account. But it was 
not long before she wished to confine him to a more 
domestic life ; and when she found this to be impossible, 
she gave place to jealousy. This soured and irritated 
her temper, and was productive of many outrages. — 
After repeatedly leaving his house, and being brought 
back by his earnest importunities, she took her final 
departure, and left word that she w r ould never return. 
After behaving in this way, it is no w r onder he should 
laconically say, " I have not left her; I have not put 
her away ; nor will I invite her back again." She died 
about nine years before him, and a stone was placed at 
the head of her grave, in Camberwell Church-yard, re- 
presenting her as a person of piety, a tender parent, and 
a sincere Mend. 

1 752. October 16, this year the ninth conference was 
held in Bristol, at which it was first determined, that 
the preachers should each have a salary of twelve 
pounds a year, to provide themselves cloathes, books, 
&c. Their food was provided for them where they la- 
boured. Few men are more straitened and embarrassed 
in their circumstances than some preachers sometimes 
have been. It is well that God knows their wants. 

1753. May 22, the tenth conference began in Leeds. 
All the former annual conferences were held either in 
London or Bristol. About thirty preachers were pres- 
ent upon this occasion, who were nearly the whole of 
the preachers at that time. 

Till now, Mr. Wesley had enjoyed remarkably good 
health. But in October, 1753, he was seized with a 
consumptive disorder, which brought him near death. 
After trying other expedients, he went to the Hot-wells s 
near Bristol, to enjoy the benefit of those medicinal 



PORTRAITURE OE METHODISM. M 

springs. Here he spent about four months. But though 
unable to travel or preach, he would not be inactive, 
but began to write his notes on the New Testament j 
"a work," says he, "which I should scarcely ever have 
attempted, had I not been so ill as not to be able to 
travel or preach, and yet so well as to be able to read 
and write." 

When in the most dangerous stage of this affliction, 
he received the following letter from the Rev. Mr, 
George Whitefield. 

"Bristol, Dec. 3, 1753. 
" Rev. and very dear Sir, 

<; If seeing you so weak when leaving London dis- 
tressed me, the news and prospect of your approaching 
dissolution hath quite weighed me down. I pity my- 
self, and the church, but not you ; a radiant throne 
awaits you, and ere long you will enter into your Mas- 
ter's joy : yonder he stands with a massy crown, ready 
to put it on your head, amidst an admiring throng of 
saints and angels. But I, poor I, that have been wait- 
ing for my dissolution these nineteen years, must be left 
behind, to grovel here below! Weill this is my comfort: 
it cannot be long ere the chariots will be sent, even for 
worthless me. 

* If prayers can detain you, even you, Rev. and very 
dear Sir, shall not leave us yet : but if the decree is 
gone forth, that you must now fall asleep in Jesus, may 
he kiss your soul away, and give you to die in the em- 
braces of triumphant love! If in the land of the dying, 
I hope to pay iny last respects to you next week. If 
not, Rev. and very dear Sir, F-a-r-e-w-e-lL Ego sequar, 
etsi non passibus cquis. [That is, I shall follow, though 
not with equal steps.] My heart is too big, tears tric- 
kle down too fast, and you are, I fear, too weak for me to 
enlarge. Underneath you may there be Christ's ever- 
lasting arms! I commend you to his never- failing me?- 
cy, and am, 

Rev. and very dear Sir, 

Your most affectionate, sympathizing, 
And afflicted young brother. 

In the Gospel of our common Lord, 

Go Whitefield/' 
d2 



& A TRUE ANB COMPLETE 

* ; To prevent panegyric," in case he should then die, 
lie wrote the following epitaph, and ordered that this 
inscription, if any, should r?e placed on his tomb-stone: 

"Here lieth the Body of JOHN WESLEY, 
" A brand plucked out of the burning : 

*■ Who died of a ro . -urnpt ion in the fifty-first year of his age ; 
i Not leaving, aft^r his debts are paid, ten pounds behind him, 
* x Praying, God be merciful to me an unprofitable servant!" 

May 22, 1754, the eleventh conference was held in 
London. During the preceding year, a breach had 
been made in the connexion, by Samuel Larwood, Jon- 
athan Reeves, John Whitworth, Charles Skelton, and 
John Edwards, forming independent congregations, in 
different parts of England. 

May 6, 1 755, the twelfth conference began in Leeds. 
The lawfulness and expediency of separating from the 
Church was seriously and calmly considered: and on 
the third daj^, they all fully agreed in the general con- 
clusion, that whether it was lawful or not, it was in no 
wise expedient. This year the practice of renewing the 
covenant with God, was first begun by Mr. Wesley, in 
London. 

August 26, 1756, the thirteenth conference, consist- 
ing of about fifty preachers, began in Bristol. They 
again considered the point about a separation, when 
Mr. Wesley, and his brother Charles, closed the con- 
ference, with a solemn declaration of their purpose, ne- 
ver to separate from the church. 

1757. There were two conferences held this year, a 
little one at Keighley, May 21, between Mr. Wesley 
and the preachers in that neighbourhood : and the regu- 
lar annual one began August 4, in London. We shall 
not number that held at Keighly, but call that held in 
London the fourteenth conference. It was a conference 
of love ^nd harmony. It was at this time that the first 
iixed allowance was made to preachers wives. It was 
first allowed to Mrs. Mather, and the annual sum was 
ten pounds ; which would have gone further then than 
twenty pounds will now. 

August 8, 1759, the sixteenth conference began in 
London. This conference was remarkable for a strict 
examination into the spirit and lives of the preachers* 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 4f 

August 29, 1760, the seventeenth conference began in 
Bristol. This year was remarkable for a great revival 
of religion in London and elsewhere, and especially on 
account of a great number of persons, who professed to 
be cleansed from all unrighteousness, or to be made per- 
fect in love. But it was disgraced by some of those fol- 
lowing impulses more than the Bible ; using irreverent 
expressions in prayer; pretending to the gift of discern- 
ment of spirits, and of foretelling future events ; and in 
pronouncing uncharitable and harsh censures against 
those who disapproved of their enthusiasm. The con- 
nexion was disturbed, and two or three years after, a 
considerable number of the society in London left Mr. 
Wesley's connexion, with Mr. Maxfield and George 
Bell at their head. 

September 1, 1761, the eighteenth conference began 
in London. At this time the work of God swiftly in- 
creased : and there was also an increase of what was 
not justifiable. Mr. Wesley laboured hard to guard the 
people against extremes on both sides, and in some mea- 
sure succeeded. His religious sentiments were both 
rational and scriptural, and he was always an enemy to 
rant and enthusiam. 

1762. This year the nineteenth conference was held 
in Leeds, beginning on the 9th of August. God was 
graciously present, and it was a profitable season.—- 
During this year, there was a considerable revival of 
religion in Ireland, and particularly in Dublin. Mr. 
Wesley says, " The person by whom chiefly it had 
pleased God to work this wonderful work, was John 
Manners, a plain man, of middling sense, and not elo- 
quent, but rather rude in speech : one who had never 
before been remarkably useful, but seemed to be raised 
up for this single work : and as soon as it was done, he 
fell into a consumption, languished awhile, and died." 
I would just remark, that Mr. John Manners was bur- 
ried in the Church-yard, in St. SaviourVgate, in York; 
and that Mr. John Shaw, an itinerant preacher for ma- 
ny years ; and latterly, Mr. Alexander Mather, are in- 
tered in the same grave. Mr. Manners informed Mr. 
Wesley, that during this gracious movement in Dublin, 
some were justified, or sanctified, almost every day; 
that the people were all on fire: and that the work war 



4fe A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

eontinualy increasing. When Mr. Wesley visited 
Dublin, he found Mr. Manners had not at all exceeded 
the truth, in the plain unadorned accounts which he had 
sent him. 

1763. In July this year, the twentieth conference 
was held in London. The resolutions of former con- 
ferences respecting discipline were now published. — 
The design and state of Kings wood-school were drawn 
up. The deed of trust was prepared by three eminent 
lawyers ; and it was agreed earnestly to request all the 
societies to contribute to the yearly collection, which 
had only been made in a few of the societies hitherto, 
The number of the circuits was in England, 20; in 
Scotland. 2; in Wales, 2; in Ireland. 7. Total 31. 
This conference instituted the preachers fund. 

It will give the reader a clear and interesting view 
of Mr. Wesley's opinion of noisy and irregular meet- 
ings for religious exercises, to transcribe part of his 
journal for August 27, 1763. 

"Mr. Evan," says he, "gave me an account, from 
his own knowledge, of what has made a great noise in 
Wales." " It is common in the congregations, attended 
by Mr. W. W. and one or two other clergyman, after 
the preaching is over, for any one that has a mind to 
give out a verse of a hymn. This they sing over and 
over with all their might, perhaps above thirty, yea, 
forty times. Mean while, the bodies of two or three, 
sometimes ten or twelve, are violently agitated ; and 
they lead up and down, in all manner of postures, fre- 
quently for hours together." Mr. Wesley adds, " I 
think it needs no penetration to understand this. They 
are honest, upright men, who really feel the love of 
God in their hearts. But they have little experience, 
either of the ways of God, or of the devices of Satan. 
So he serves himself of their simplicity, in order to 
wear them out, and to bring a discredit on the work of 
God." 

August 16, 1764, the twenty-first conference began 
in Bristol. Twelve clergymen made their appearance 
at this conference, to endeavour to prevail upon Mr. 
Wesley to give up the societies under his care to the 
superintendence of those ministers in every place, who 
were pious and preached the gospeL And Mr* Charles 



PORTRAITURE OE METHODISM. 45 

Wesley, who ceased to travel in 1757, and settled in 
Bristol, united with them. Mr. John Wesley, however, 
could not see into the propriety of this ; but resisted 
their importunity, and the preachers unanimously con- 
curred with him. 

1765. On the 20th of August, the conference of this 
year began at Manchester; many subjects were discuss- 
ed, and among the rest, the subject of female preach- 
ing. I cannot deny myself and the reader the pleasure 
of inserting a letter from Mr. Wesley to Miss Bosan- 
quet, now Mrs. Fletcher, upon this delicate and con- 
troverted subject. 

Londonderry r , June 31, 1771. 
" My dear Sister, 

u I think the strength of the cause rests there, in your 
having an extraordinary call. So I am persuaded has 
every one of our lay-preachers: otherwise I could not 
countenance their preaching at all. It is plain to me, 
that the whole work of God termed Methodism, is an 
extraordinary dispensation of his providence. There- 
fore I do not wonder, if several things occur therein, 
which do not fall under ordinary rules of discipline. 
St. Paul's ordinary rule of discipline was, " I permit 
not a woman to speak in the congregation,"" yet in ex- 
traordinary cases, he made a few exceptions, at Corinth 
in particular. 

" I am, my dear sister, your affectionate brother, 

" J. WESLEY." 

August 12,1766, the twenty-third conference was 
held in Leeds. And, says Mr. Wesley, " A happier 
one we never had nor a more profitable one. It both 
began and ended in love, and with a solemn sense of 
the presence of God." 

August 18, 1767, the twenty-fourth conference be- 
gan in London. It was a pleasant conference, and Mr. 
Whiten eld attended the two last days; also many 
stewards and local preachers. It was at this confe- 
rence that the members in society in the different cir- 
cuits, first began to be published* Tbey stood as fol- 
lows : 



46 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 



Circuits. 


Preachers. 


Members'; 


In England, 25 


75 


22,410 


In Ireland, 9 


19 


2,891 


In Scotland, 5 


7 


468 


In Wales, 1 


3 


232 



Total, 40 104 25,911 

This conference determined that quarterly and ee* 
easional lasts should be observed in the different cir- 
cuits : and spoke strongly against smuggling, as well as 
bribery at elections of members of parliament. 

In A u g us t, 1768, the twenty-fiith conference was 
held in Bristol. It seems the harvest appeared to be 
great, and the labourers comparatively few. And at 
this conference it was resolved that no traveling preach- 
er should carry on a trade, and this resolution was re- 
newed and strengthened at the conference in 1770, and 
again in 1804. 

August 1, 1769, the twenty-sixth conference com- 
menced in Leeds. And the preachers had the pleasure 
of being informed, that Methodism had begun to take 
root in the vast continent of America. A preaching- 
house had been built at New-York, and a cry was 
heard, " Come over and help us." Mr. Richard Board- 
man and Mr. Joseph Pilmore willingly offered them- 
selves for this service, and took a present in their 
hands of fifty pounds, as a token of brotherly love. — ■ 
Methodism had its first introduction into America by 
certain persons who had emigrated thither from Eng- 
land and Ireland, assisted by Lieutenant, commonly 
called Captain Webb, who was in New- York with the 
army, and preached there and at Philadelphia with 
great zeal and success. In 1771, Mr. Francis Asbury 
was sent thither by Mr. Wesley and the conference. 
He now presides, under the character of Bishop, over 
all the Methodists in the United States, a country not 
less than 1,300 miles in length, and 500 in breadth. — 
May he not be said to have the largest see of any bish- 
op in the world ? yet many curates have larger salaries. 

In August, 1770, the twenty-seventh conference was 
held in London. From this time the preachers' wives, 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. W 

who derived support from the connexion, had their 
names, together with the circuit that was to give them 
the allowance, mentioned in the printed Minutes. Cer- 
tain propositions inserted in the Minutes of this year, 
gave huge offence to the Calvinists, and certain cham- 
pions among them blew the trumpet in Sion, and invi- 
ted all their brethren to go forth in battle array, and 
insist upon Mr. Wesley's recanting what he had thus 
published. That most excellent man, Mr. Fletcher^ 
vicar of Madely, became the vindicator of Mr. Wesley 
and the obnoxious propositions ; and he did it to per- 
fection, to the establishment and joy of Mr. Wesley's 
friends and the confusion and discomfiture of his oppo- 
nents. Reader, do not fail to read Mr. Fletchers five 
Checks to Antinomianism. He died, regretted by the 
church, and lamented by the world, August 14, 1785, 
in the 56th year of his illustrious life. 

The twenty-eighth conference begun August the 6th # 
1771 at Bristol. At this conference, Mr. Wesley says 
in his Journal, " we had more preachers than usual, in 
consequence of Mr. Shirley's circular letter. At ten 
on Thursday morning, he came with nine or ten of his 
friends. We conversed freely for about two hours „ 
And I believe they were satisfied that we were not such 
dreadful heretics as they imagined, but were tolerably 
sound in the faith." However, several of the following 
years were remarkable and in one sense afflicting, on 
account of the controversy that was so warmly carried 
on between Mr. Wesley's vindicators and opposers. 
But truth is great and will prevail. 

The twenty-ninth conference was held at Leeds, in 
the beginning of August, 1772. The next conference, 
the thirtieth, was held in London : and the thirty-first, 
in 1774, was held in Bristol. At these three conferen- 
ces nothing new of any very interesting iconsequence 
occurred. 

1775. A local preacher from Liverpool, Mr. John 
Crook, was induced to visit the Isle of Man. He was 
favoured with extraordinary success. Methodism, or 
in other words, true religion, has had a general, and 
very beneficial influence upon the inhabitants of that 
isle. 



4$ A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

In August, 1775, the thirty-second conference wae 
held in Leeds. Complaints from different quarters in- 
timated, that many of the preachers had neither grace 
nor gifts sufficient to qualify them for the work of the 
ministry. But after a full and close examination of the 
subject, the general opinion was, that those charges 
were without sufficient foundation. 

The thirty-third conference began in London, August 
the 6th 1776. This was a conference remarkable for 
a strict examination of the preachers, as to their gifts, 
graces, and usefulness. The result was, that one was 
excluded for insufficiency, and two for improper beha- 
viour. One hundred and fifty travelling preachers was 
the number then employed in Great Britain and Ire- 
land. It was in August, this year, that Dr. Coke join- 
ed Mr. Wesley. See page 23 of his 18th Journal. He 
has been a most active and useful man. 

In August, 1777, the thirty-fourth conference was 
held in Bristol. It seems it had been very generally 
reported, that the Methodists were a fallen people.—* 
Mr. Wesley inquired very minutely into this at the 
conference, and was fully convinced, that they did not 
decrease, but increase, both in grace and number. — 
John Hilton, however, left the connexion, because the 
Blethodists, as he said, were a fallen people, and joined 
the Quakers. It was at this conference that Mr. Wes- 
ley began to record in the annual Minutes those preach- 
ers who died in the year preceding. 

On the 1st of January, 1778, Mr. Wesley published 
the first number of the Arminan Magazine. He con- 
tinued to publish a number every month so long as he 
lived, and the conference has done the same since his 
death to this day. It has a vast circulation, and has 
done much good. 

In August, 1778, as usual, this year, the thirty-fifth 
Conference was held in Leeds. 

August the 3d, 1779, the thirty-sixth conference 
commenced its sittings in London. 

The thirty-seventh conference began in Bristol, on 
the 1st of August, 1780. At this time the Large Mi- 
nutes, containing the whole of our discipline, were 
revised and confirmed. 



FOKTHAITUKE OF METHODISM. ±9 

1781. At the usual time, the thirty-eightli conference 
was held in Leeds. 

In July* 1782, Dr. Coke, being delegated by Mr. 
Wesley, held a conference in Dublin. This has been 
annually continued ever since, and the Doctor has 
been almost always the president. It seems to have 
been of great advantage to the Irish Methodists. 

August the 6th, 1782, the thirty-ninth conference 
began in London. 

July 29, 1 783, the fortieth conference began in Bristol. 
The preachers were duly impressed with the importance 
of having all our chapels so settled, that they could not 
be applied to any other purpose than those for which 
they were built. Dr. Coke endured much labour and 
reproach in forwarding this important object, and though 
he had some success, it was by no means equal to his 
wishes, nor what might have been expected. 

February 28, 1784, Mr. Wesley executed the well* 
known Deed of Declaration, Constituting one hundred 
preachers, whom he mentioned by name, "The Con- 
ference of the People called Methodists." This instru- 
ment was enrolled in his Majesty's High Court of Chan- 
cery. " The design of it was so to explain the phrase, 
*" The Conference of the People called Methodists," 
that the trustees might not be able to alienate any 
chapels from the purpose for which they were built, and 
that the conference might possess the power of appoint- 
ing preachers to all the chapels. But when the forty- 
first conference met in Leeds, in July, 1784, it was 
found that the Deed of Declaration had produced un- 
pleasant consequences, as it had given huge offence to 
four or five preachers, whose names were not inserted 
in it, while many of their juniors, and perhaps their in- 
feriors in some respects, had that honour. By the in- 
fluence of Mr* Fletcher, a temporary peace was patch- 
ed up. But it was not long before the two Hampsons 
quitted the connexion^ the father becoming an inde- 
pendent minister at Tunbridge Wells, and the son get- 
ting episcopal ordination, and a living at Sunderland. 

To throw light upon the subject, I will here insert a 
copy of the Deed of Declaration, accompanied by Dr* 



50 A TliUE AND COMPLETE 

Coke's account of its origin, written by the Doctor 
not a year before Mr. Wesley's death. 

I once thought of leaving out the names of the hun- 
dred preachers mentioned in the Deed. But as it would 
then have appeared in a mutilated state, the reader 
shall have it just as Mr. Wesley executed it. 

I would only remark, that not forty of the hundred 
are now alive, and not one half of these able to take cir- 
cuits. " So soon passeth it away, and we are gone." 

An Address to the Methodist Society in Great-Britain and 
Ireland, on the Settlement of the Preaching-Houses.— 
By Thomas Coke, L. L. D. 

My dearest Brethren, 

It has long been the grief of my mind, that any 
thing should exist among us which gives much uneasi- 
ness to many of you, and will, if it be suffered to con- 
tinue among us, be a ground for perpetual dissatisfaction, 
to the great hindrance of the work of God ; I mean the 
power given to the conference, by the present mode of 
settling our preaching-houses. 

I have opened my sorrowful mind at large to several 
of the most judicious of our preachers, men who have 
borne the heat and burden of the day ; men of renown 
in our Israel ; and they have with one voice advised me 
to lay before you this present plan of reconciliation. 

For this purpose I shall, in the first place, relate to 
you the several steps by which the general deed, which 
was enrolled in Chancery by our dear honoured father 
in the gospel, Mr. Wesley, was set on foot, and after- 
wards completed. I shall secondly, present to you a 
copy of the general deed itself, with annotations. 

SECT* I. 

Of the several steps by which the general Deed was set on 
foot, and at last completed. 

In the conference held in the year 1 782, several com- 
plaints were made in respect to the danger in which 
we were situated, from the want of specifying in dis- 
tinct and legal terms what was meant by the term, " The 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM*. g± 

Conference of the people called Methodists. 5 ' Indeed 
the preachers seemed universally alarmed* and many 
expressed their fears that divisions would take place 
among ns after the death of Mr. Wesley on this account. 
And the whole body of preachers present seemed to 
wish, that some methods might be taken to remove this 
danger, which appeared to be pregnant with evils of the 
first magnitude. 

In consequence of this, (the subject lying heavy on 
my mind) I desired Mr. Clulow of Chancery Lane, 
London, to draw up such a case as I should judge suffi- 
cient for the purpose, and then to present it to that ve- 
ry eminent counsellor Mr. Maddox, for his opinion.— - 
This was accordingly done ; and Mr. Maddox informed 
us in his answer, that the deeds of our preaching-hou- 
ses were in the situation we dreaded ; that the law 
would not recognize the conference in the state in 
which it stood at that time; and consequently, that 
there was no central point which might preserve the 
connexion from splitting into a thousand pieces after 
the death of Mr. Wesley. To prevent this he observ- 
ed that Mr. Wesley should enrol a deed in Chancery, 
which deed should specify the persons by name who 
composed the conference, together with the mode 
of succession for its perpetuity; and, at the same 
time, such regulations be established by the deed, as 
Mr. Wesley would wish the conference should be gov- 
erned by after his death. 

This opinion of Mr. Maddox I read in the conference 
held in the year 1783. The whole conference seemed 
grateful to me for procuring the opinion ; and expressed 
their wishes that such a deed might be drawn up, and 
executed by Mr. Wesley, as should agree with the ad- 
vice of that great lawyer, as soon as possible. 

Soon after the conference was ended, Mr. Wesley 
authorised me to draw up, with the assistance of Mr. 
Clulow, all the leading parts of a deed, which should 
answer the above-mentioned purposes. This we did 
with much care : and, as to myself, I can truly say, 
with fear and trembling, receiving Mr. Maddox's ad- 
vice in respect to every step we took, and laying the 
whole ultimately at Mr. Wesley's feet for bis approba- 



52 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

tion. There remained nothing now but to insert tire 
names of those who were to constitute the conference. 
Mr. Wesley then declared, that he would limit the 
number to one hundred. This was indeed contrary to 
my very humble opinion; which was, that every 
preacher in full connexion should be a member of the 
conference; and that admission into full connexion 
should be looked upon as admission into membership 
with the conference ; and I still believe it will be most 
for the glory of God, and the peace of our Zion, that the 
members of the conference admit the other preachers 
who are in full connexion, and are present at the Con- 
ferences from time to time, to a full vote en all occa- 
sions.* However, of course, I submitted to the superior 
judgment and authority of Mr. Wesley. But I do pub- 
licly avow, that I was not concerned in the limitation 
of the number, or the selection of the hundred preach- 
ers who were nominated the members of the conference. 
All things necessary being completed in the Court of 
Chancery according to law, I thought it my duty to 
send copies of the deed to all assistants of circuits 
throughout Great-Britain, and afterwards carried oopies 
of it to Ireland. 

SECT. II. 

An attested Copy of the Rev. John Wesley* $ Declaration 
and Establishment of the Conference of the People cal- 
led Methodists, enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of 
Chancery, with Annotations. 

To all to whom these presents shall come, John Wes- 
ley, late of Lincoln College, Oxford, but now of the 
City -Road, London, Clerk, sendeth greeting : 

Whereas divers buildings commonly called chapels, 
with a messuage and dwelling-house, or other appurte- 
nances to each of the same belonging, situate in various 
parts of Great-Britain, have been given and conveyed, 

* My sentiments are precisely the same with those of Dr. 
Coke as here expressed. But this is now the established 
rule of conference, except in the choice of the president and 
secretary, and has been since the death of Mr. Wesley. 

J. Chowther, 



PORTRAITURE Of METHODISM. 53 

from time to time, by the said John Wesley to certain 
persons, and their heirs, in each of the said gifts and con- 
veyances named, which are enrolled in His Majesty *s 
High Court of Chancery, upon the acknowledgment of 
the said John Wesley, (pursuant to the Act of Parlia- 
ment in that case made and provided,) upon Trusty 
that the trustees in the said several deeds respectively 
named, and the survivors of them, and their heirs and 
assigns, and the trustees for the time being to be elect- 
ed, as in the said deeds is appointed, should permit and 
suffer the said John Wesley, and such other person and 
persons as he should for that purpose from time to time 
nominate and appoint, at all times during his life, at 
his will and pleasure, to have and enjoy the free use 
and benefit of the said premises, that he the said John 
Wesley, and such person or persons as he should nom- 
inate and appoint, might therein preach and expound 
God's holy word : And upon further trust, that the said 
respective trustees, and the survivors of them, and their 
heirs and assigns, and the trustees for the time being, 
should permit and suffer Charles Wesley, brother of the 
said John Wesley, and such other person and persons 
as the said Charles Wesley should for that purpose 
from time to time nominate and appoint, in like manner 
during his life. — To have, use, and enjoy the said pre- 
mises respectively for the like purposes aforesaid : and 
after the decease of the survivor of them, the said John 
Wesley and Charles Wesley, then upon further trust, 
that the said respective trustees* and the survivors of 
them, and their heirs and assigns, and the trustees for 
the time being for ever, should permit and suffer such 
person and persons, and for such time and times as 
should be appointed at the yearly conference of the peo- 
ple called Methodists in London, Bristol, or Leeds, and 
no others, to have and enjoy the said premises for the 
purposes aforesaid ;* and whereas divers persons have 

* This is only a repetition of that part of the old Deed of 
Settlement which relates to the Trust. Nor does this Deed 
alter the old mode of settlement in any respect, but was mere*. 
ly designed to specify who were then the members of the Con- 
ference, how the succession should be preserved, and by what 
regulation the Conference should be governed. 

R 2 



Sit A TKUE AND COMPLETE 

in like manner given, or conveyed, many chapels, with 
massuages and dwelling-houses, or other appurtenances 
to the same belonging, situate in various parts of Great- 
Britain, and also in Ireland, to certain trustees in each 
of the said gifts and conveyances respectively named 3 
upon the like trusts, and for the same uses and purpo- 
ses as aforesaid, (except only that in some of the said 
gifts and conveyances, no life-estate, or other interest, 
is therein or thereby given and reserved to the said 
Charles Wesley :) and whereas, for rendering effectual 
the trusts created by the said several gifts or convey- 
ances, and that no doubt or litigation may arise with 
respect unto the same, or interpretation and true mean- 
pig thereof, it has been thought expedient by the said 
John Wesley, on behalf of himself as donor of the sev- 
eral chapels, with the messuages, dwelling-houses, or 
appurtenances before-mentioned, as of the donors of the 
said other chapels, with the messuages, dwelling-houses 
or appurtenances to the same belonging, given or con- 
veyed to the like uses and trusts, to explain the words 
yearly Conference of the people called Methodists, contain- 
ed in all the said trust-deeds, and to declare what per- 
sons are members of the said Conference, and how the 
succession and identity thereof is to be continued : Now 
therefore these presents witness, that, for accomplishing 
the aforesaid purposes, the said John Wesley doth here*- 
by declare, that the Conference of the people called 
Methodists in London, Bristol, or Leeds, ever since 
there hath been any yearly conference of the said peo* 
pie called Methodists, in any of the said places, hath al- 
ways heretofore consisted of the preachers and ex- 
pounders of God's holy word, commonly called Metho- 
dist preachers, in connexion with, and under the care of 
the said John Wesley, whom he hath thought expedi- 
ent, year after year, to summons to meet him, in one or 
other of the said places of London, Bristol, or Leeds, to 
advise with them for the promotion of the gospel of 
Christ, to appoint the said persons so summoned, and 
the other preachers and expounders of God's holy word, 
also in connexion with, and under the care of the said 
John Wesley, not summoned to the said yearly confer- 
ence, to the use and enjoyment of the chapels and pre* 
mises so given and conveyed upon fcnist for the said 



PORTRAITURE OB METHODISM, 55 

John Wesley, and such other person and persons as he 
should appoint during his life as aforesaid ; and for the 
expulsion of unworthy, and admission of new persons 
under his care, and into his connexion, to be preachers 
and expounders as aioresaid ; and also of other persons 
upon trial for the like purposes : the names of all which 
persons so summoned by the said John Wesley, the 
persons appointed, with the chapels and premises to 
which they were so appointed, together with the dura- 
tion of such appointments, and of those expelled, or 
admitted, into connexion, or 'upon trial, with all other 
matters transacted and done at the said yearly confer- 
ence, have year by year been printed and publish- 
ed under the title of Minutes of Conference. And 
these presents further witness, and the said John Wesley 
doth hereby avouch and further declare, that the seve- 
ral persons herein after-named, to wit, the said John 
Wesley and Charles Wesley ; Thomas Coke, of the city 
of London, doctor of civil law, James Creighton, of the 
same place, clerk, Thomas Tenant, of the same place, 
Thomas Rankin, of the same place ; Joshua Kighley, of 
"Seven Oaks, in the county of Kent ; James Wood, of 
Rochester, in the said county of Kent ; John Booth, of 
Colchester, Thomas Cooper, of the same place; Rich- 
ard Whatcoat, of Norwich; Jeremiah Brittell, of Lynn, 
in the connty of Norfolk, Jonathan Parkin, of the same 
place; Joseph Pescod, of Bedford; Christopher Wat- 
kins, of Northampton, John Barber, of the same place; 
John Broadbent, of Oxford, Joseph Cole of the same 
place ; Jonathan Cousens, of the city of Gloucester, 
John Brittell, of the same place; John Mason, of Salis- 
bury, George Story of the same place: Francis Wrigley^ 
©f St. Austell, in the county of Cornwall ; William 
Green, of the city of Bristol; John Moon, of Ply- 
mouth-Dock, James Hall, of the same place , James 
Thom, of St. Austell aforesaid : Joseph Taylor, of Red- 
ruth, in the said county of Cornwall ; William Hcskins, 
of Cardiff, Glamorganshire; John Leech, of Brecon, 
William Saunders, of the same place ; Richard Rodda, 
of Birmingham; John Fenwick, of Burslem, Stafford* 
shire, Thomas Hanby, of the same place; James Ro- 
gers, of Macclesfield, Samuel Bardsley, of the same 
place; John Murlin, of Manchester, William Percival/ 



56 A TRUE AKB COMPLETE 

of the same place; Duncan Wright, of the city of Ches- 
ter, John Goodwin, of the same place ; Parson Green- 
wood, of Liverpool, Zechariah Udall, of the same place,' 
Thomas Vasey, of the same place ; Joseph Bradford, 
of Leicester, Jeremiah Robertshaw, of the same place; 
William Myles, of Nottingham ; Thomas Longley, o£ 
Derby ; Thomas Taylor, of Sheffield, William Simp* 
son, of the same place ; Thomas Carlill, of Grimsby, 
in the county of Lincoln, Robert Scott, of the same 
place, Joseph Harper, of the same place ; Thomas Cor- 
bitt, of Gainsborough, in the said county of Lincoln, 
James Ray, of the same place ; William Thompson, of 
Leeds, in the county of York, Robert Roberts, of the 
same place; Samuel Bradburn, of the same place; 
John Valton, of Birstal, in the said county, John Allen, 
of the same place, Isaac Brown, of the same place ; 
Thomas Hanson, of Huddersfield, in the said county, 
John Shaw, of the same place ; Alexander Mather, of 
Bradford, in the said county ; Joseph Benson, of Hali- 
fax, in the said county, William Dufton, of the same 
place ; Benjamin Rhodes, of Kighley, in the said coun- 
ty ; John Easton, of Coin, in the county of Lancaster, 
Robert Costerdine, of the same place; Jasper Robinson, 
of the Isle of Man, George Button, of the same place ; 
John Pawson, of the city of York ; Edward Jackson, of 
Hull; Charles Atmore, of the said city of York ; Launce* 
lot Harrison, of Scarborough ; George Shadford, of 
Hull aforesaid ; Barnabas Thomas, of the same place ; 
Thomas Briscoe, of Yarm, in the said county of York, 
Christopher Peacock, of the same place; William 
Thorn, of Whitby, in the said county of York, Robert 
Hopkins, of the same place ; John Peacock, of Bernard- 
Castle; William Collins, of Sunderland; Thomas Dix» 
on, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Christopher Hopper, of 
ihe same place, William Boothby, of the same place ; 
William Hunter, of Berwick-upon-Tweed; Joseph 
Saunderson, of Dundee, Scotland^ William Warrener, 
of the same place ? Duncan M' Allum, of Aberdeen, 
Scotland; Thomas Rutherford, of the city of Dublin, 
in the kingdom of Ireland, Daniel Jackson* of the sarcm 
place ; Henry Moore, of the city of Cork, Ireland, An-*- 
drew Blair, of the same place; Richard Watkinson, oL 



PORTRAIT I HE OE METHODISM. 57 

Limerick, Ireland; Nehemiah Price, of Aihlone, Ire- 1 
land; Robert Lindsay, of Sligo, Ireland; George Brown, 
ef Clones, Ireland; Thomas Barber, of Charlemount, 
Ireland; Henry Foster, of Belfast, Ireland, and John 
Crook, of Lisburne, Ireland, gentleman, being preach- 
ers and expounders of God's holy word, under the care 
and in connexion with the said John Wesley, have 
been, and now are, and do, on the day of the date here- 
of, constitute the members of the said Conference, accord- 
ing to the true intent and meaning of the said several 
gifts and conveyances, wherein the words Conference 
of the People called Methodists are mentioned and con- 
tained. And that the said several persons before-nam- 
ed and their successors forever, to be chosen as 
herein after mentioned, are and shall forever be constru- 
ed, taken, and be the Conference of the People called 
Methodists. Nevertheless upon the terms, and subject 
to the regulations herein after prescribed, that is to say, 

First, That the members of the said Conference, and 
their successors, for the time being for ever, shall assem- 
ble once in every year, at London, Bristol, or Leeds, 
(except as after-mentioned) for the purposes aforesaid ; 
and the time and place of holding every subsequent 
Conference shall be appointed at the preceding one; 
save that the next conference, after the date hereof 
shall be holden at Leeds, in Yorkshire, the last Tuesday 
in July next. 

Second, The act of the majority in number of the 
Conference assembled as aforesaid shall be had, taken, 
and be the act of the whole Conference; to ajl intents, 
purposes, and constructions whatsoever. 

Third, That after the Conference shall be assembled 
as aforesaid, they shall first proceed to fill up all the vac 
eancies occasioned by death, or absence, as after-men? 
tioned. 

Fourth, * No act of the Conference assembled as 
aforesaid, shall be had, taken, or be the act of the Cou^ 

* This regulation tends to prevent any small party of de- 
signing" men from executing clandestine measures, as does the 
regulation which obliges every Conference to fix in the year 
preceding, the time of the meeting of the Corference. in fee 
year ensuing. 



S8 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

ference, until forty of the members thereof are assem- 
bled, unless reduced under that number by death since 
the prior Conference, or absence, as after-mentioned, nor 
until all the vacancies occasioned by death, or absence, 
shall be filled up by the election of new members of the 
Conference, so as to make up the number of one hundred, 
unless there be not a sufficient number of persons objects 
of such election : and during the assembly of the Con- 
ference there shall always be forty members present at 
the doing of any act, save as aforesaid, or otherwise 
such act shall be void. 

Fifth, The duration of the yearly assembly of the 
Conference shall not be less than five days, nor more 
than three weeks,f and be concluded. by the appoint- 
ment of the Conference, if under twenty-one days; or 
otherwise the conclusion thereof shall foSiow of course 
at the end of the said twenty-one days; the whole of 
all which said time of the assembly of the Conference 
shall be had, taken, considered, and be the yearly Con- 
ference of the people called Methodists, and all such 
acts of the Conference during such yearly assembly 
thereof shall be the acts of the Conference, and none 
others. 

Sixth 3 Immediately after all the vacancies occasioned 
by death, or absence, are filled up by the election of 
new members as aforesaid, the Conference shall choose 
a president, and secretary of their assembly, out of 
themselves, who shall continue such until the election 
of another president or secretary, in the next or other 
subsequent Conference; and the said president shall 
have the privilege and power of two members in all acts 
of the Conference during his presidency, and such other 
powers, privileges and authorities, as the Conference 
shall from time to time see fit to entrust into his hands. 

Seventh, Any member of the Conference absenting 
himself from the yearly assembly thereof for two years 
successively, without the consent or dispensation of the 
Conference, and being not present on the first day of 

* Otherwise the Conference might continue to sit till the 
circuits were materially injured by the absence of so many of 
the preachers. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 59 

the third year assembly thereof, at the time and place 
appointed for the holding of the same, shall cease to be 
a member of the Conference from and after the said first 
day of the said third yearly assembly thereof, to all in- 
tent and purposes, as though he was naturally dead. 
But the Conference shall, and may dispense with, or 
consent to the absence of any member from any of the 
said yearly assemblies, for any cause which the Confer- 
ence may see fit or necessary, and such member, whose 
absence shall be so dispensed with, or consented to by 
the Conference, shall not by such absence cease to be 
a member thereof. 

Eighth, # The Conference shall and may expel, and 
put out from being a member thereof, or from being in 
connexion therewith, or from being upon trial, any per- 
son member of the Conference, admitted into connex- 
ion, or upon trial, for any cause which the Conference 
may see fit or necessary ; and every member of the 
Conference so expelled and put out shall cease to be a 
member thereof to all intents and purposes, as though 
he was naturally dead. And the Conference immedi- 
ately after the expulsion of any member thereof as 
aforesaid, shall elect another person to be a member of 
the Conference, in the stead of such member so expel- 
led. 

Ninth, The Conference shall and may admit into 
connexion with them, or upon trial, any person or per- 
sons whom they shall approve, to be preachers and ex- 
pounders of God's holy word, under the care and direc- 
tion of the Conference, the name of every such person 
or persons so admitted into connexion, or upon trial as 
aforesaid, with the time and degrees of the admission, 
being entered in the journals or minutes of the Confer- 
ence. 

Tenth, No person shall be elected a member of the 
Conference, who hath not been admitted into connex- 
ion with the Conference as a preacher and expounder 
of God's holy word, as aforesaid, for twelve months. 

* This is only the power which Mr. Wesley has ever exerci- 
sed, and must be invested in the Conference after his decease/ 
to enable them to preserve the body pure. 



60 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

Eleventh, The Conference shall not, nor may nomi* 
Inate or appoint any person to the use and enjoyment of, 
or to preach and expound God's holy word in any of 
the chapels and premises so given or conveyed, or which 
may be given or conveyed, upon the trusts aforesaid, 
who is not either a member of the Conference, or ad- 
mitted into connexion with the same, or upon trial, as 
aforesaid ; nor appoint any person for more than three 
years successively to the use and enjoyment of any 
chapels and premises already given, or to be given or 
conveyed upon the trusts aforesaid, except ordained 
ministers of the Church of England. 

Twelfth, That the Conference shall and may ap- 
point the place of holding the yearly assembly thereof 
at any other city, town, or place, than London, Bristol, 
or Leeds, when it shall seem expedient so to do. 

Thirteenth, And, for the convenience of the chapels 
and premises already, or which may hereafter be given 
or conveyed upon the trusts aforesaid, situated in Ireland 
or other parts out of the kingdom of Great Britain, the 
Conference shall and may, when, and as often as it shall 
seem expedient, but not otherwise, appoint and delegate 
any member or members of the Conference, with all or 
any of the powers, privileges, and advantages herein 
before contained or vested in the Conference, and all 
and every the acts, admissions, expulsions, and appoint- 
ments whatsoever of such member or members of the 
Conference so appointed and delegated as aforesaid, the 
same being put into writing, and signed by such dele- 
gate or delegates, and entered in the journals or mi- 
nutes of the Conference, and subscribed, as after-men* 
tioned, shall be deemed, taken, and be, the acts, admis- 
sions, expulsions, and appointments of the Conference 
to all intents, constructions, and purposes whatsoever, 
from the respective times when the same shall be done 
by such delegate or delegates, notwithstanding any 
thing herein contained to the contrary. 

Fourteenth, * All resolutions, and orders touching 
elections, admissions, expulsions, consents, dispensa- 
tions, delegations, or appointments, and acts whatsoev- 

* This regulation is neoessary for the preservation of order 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 61 

er, of the Conference, shall be entered and written in 
the journals or minutes of the Conference, which shall 
be kept for that purpose, publicly read, and then sub^ 
scribed by the President and Secretary thereof for the 
time being, during the time such Conference shall be 
assembled ; and when so entered and subscribed, shall 
be had, taken, received, and be the acts of the Confer- 
ence ; and such entry and subscription, as aforesaid, 
shall be had, taken, received, and be evidence of all and 
every such acts of the said Conference, and of their 
said delegates, without the aid of any other proof; and 
whatever shall not be so entered and subscribed, as 
aforesaid, shall not be had, taken, received, or be the 
Act of the Conference : and the said President and Se- 
cretary are hereby required and obliged to enter and 
subscribe as aforesaid, every act whatever of the Con- 
ference. 

Lastly,* Whenever the said Conference shall be re- 
duced under the number of forty members, and con- 
tinue so reduced for three yearly assemblies thereof 
successively, or whenever the members thereof shall 
decline or neglect to meet together annually for the 
purposes aforesaid, during the space of three years, 
that then, and in either of the said events, the Confe- 
rence of the people called Methodists shall be extin- 
guished, and all the aforesaid powers, privileges, and 
advantages shall cease; and the said chapels and pre- 
mises, and all other chapels and premises, which now 
are, or hereafter may be settled, given, or conveyed, 
upon the trusts aforesaid, shall vest in the trustees for 
the time being of the said chapels and premises respec- 
tively, and their successors for ever ; upon trust, that 
they, and the survivors of them, and the trustees for 
the time being, do, shall, and may, appoint such per- 

* By this rule care is taken, as far as possible, that the cha- 
pels be ever applied to their original design, as places of di- 
vine worship, as it enacts, That the Trustees respectively 
shall have full power to nominate preachers for the chapels 
for ever, if the members of the Conference so far neglect their 
duty, that fony of them be not assembled for three y&ars sue* 
cessivelif, at die usual time of holding the Conference! and at 
the places appointed, by the preceding* Conference? ,- 





62 A TRITE AND COMPLETE 

son and persons to preach and expound God's holy 
word therein, and to have the use and enjoyment 
thereof for such time, and in such manner, as to them 
shall seem proper. 

f Provided always, that nothing herein contained 
shall extend, or be construed to extend, to extinguish, 
lessen, or abridge the life estate of the said John Wes- 
ley, and Charles Wesley, or either of them, of and in 
any of the said chapels and premises, or any other 
chapels and premises wherein they the said John Wes- 
ley, and Charles Wesley, or either of them, now have, 
or may have, any estate or interest, power or authority 
whatsoever. In witness whereof the said John Wes- 
ley hath hereunto set his hand and seal, the twenty- 
eighth day of February, in the twenty-fourth year of 
the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third, by 
the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ire- 
land, king, defender of the faith, and so forth, and in 
the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and 
eighty-four. JOHN (Seal) WESLEY. 

Sealed and delivered (being first duly 

stamped) in the presence of 

William Clulow, Quality-Court, 

Chancery-lane, London. 
Richard Young, Clerk to the said 
William Clulow. 
The above is a true copy of the original deed, which 
is enrolled in Chancery, and was therewith examined 
by ns, William Clulow. 

Richard Young. 

-j- It would not have been reasonable that Mr. Wesley should 
resign any of his powers during bis life, who has been, under 
God, the father of the whole connexion. The word life-estate, 
which has been exceedingly misunderstood by many, and 
which is a common term in law, means no more than the 
exercise of all the powers during his life, which had been al- 
ready vested in him by former deeds, or should be by future 
deeds. It was not in his power to give himself any further 
rights or privileges in the chapels, than those which the trust 
deeds of each chapel respectively investedjhim with. The 
clause amounts merely to a reservation of his 1 former powers, 
and not to an addition of any new right pr privilege whatso- 
ever. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 63 

It was at this conference (1784,) that the term of the 
preachers' probation was altered from one to four years. 
It was also about this time that Methodism extended its 
benign influence to the Norman Isles. And about the 
same period, Mr. Wesley, assisted by other ministers, 
set apart Dr. Coke, and by him Mr. Asbury, to be 
bishops or superintendents, of what was henceforth 
termed the Methodist Episcopal Church in America : 
as also Thomas Vasey and Richard Whatcoat, to act 
as elders among them. He also abridged the liturgy of 
the Church of England, and recommended it to be used 
on Sundays, and for the elders to use that form in ad- 
ministering the Lord's Supper. 

1785. On the 26th of July, this year, the forty-se- 
cond conference began in London. About seventy 
preachers were present : and it was at this time that 
Mr. Wesley ordained preachers for Scotland. But I 
cannot say much for the success of this plan for Scot- 
land. 

About the same time there was an enlarged prospect 
of doing good in Newfoundland. 

July 25, 1786, the forty-third conference was open- 
ed in Bristol. The question about remaining in union 
with the church, or separating from it, still agitated 
some of the preachers and societies : and the following 
regulations were agreed upon — " Quest. " In what ca- 
ses do we allow of service in church hours?" Ans. 1. 
When the minister is a notoriously wicked man. 2. 
When he preaches Arianism or any other equally per- 
nicious doctrine. 3. When there are no churches in 
the town sufficient to contain half the people, And, 4. 
When there is no church at all within two or three 
miles. And we advise every one who preaches in the 
church hours, to read the Psalms and lessons, with part 
of the church prayers. 

It was at this conference that Mr. Wesley appointed 
Dr. Coke to visit the British dominions in America. — 
But the Dr. and the two missionaries destined for No- 
va Scotia, were constrained by contrary winds, to steer 
tor the W^est Indies, and landed in Antigua, on Christ- 
mas-day. Dr. Coke very properly considered his being 
driven to the West Indies as providential : and subse- 



£* A TRUB AND COMPLETE 

Cjuent events have proved it most eminently so. This 
was the grand introductory circumstance which paved 
the way for those missionary labours in those Islands 
which have been so abundantly owned of God. He 
left the two missionaries who were intended for Nova 
Scotia to labour in these Islands. Since that time the 
work has greatly increased there. 

The 9th of August, 1786, Mr. Wesley paid a second 
visit to HoHand, and returned September the 6th. His 
former visit was in 1783. He there found some truly 
pious people, to whom he preached several times> and 
rejoiced to find that genuine Christianity was essential- 
ly the same in all countries. 

July 31, and some following days, 1787, the forty- 
fourth conference was held in Manchester, it being the 
first held in that place during the last thirty years. Mr. 
Wesley had once before met a few of the preachers 
there, when the number of both preachers and people 
was small. 

A^Gtii ims iime me* l£^my SR&iSSg Sg2£ preachers 
for England only. It seems as if he came at last to this 
settled opinion, that from the great variety of opinion 
among both preachers and people, as well as from the 
behaviour of many of the clergy, it would be expedient 
as well as lawful, that the ordinances should be admin- 
istered to them who desired them. Meantime he took 
these steps, that there might be, after all, as near a con- 
formity to the church of England as circumstances- 
would admit. He was this year convinced, for the first 
time, that it was the safest way to license all our chapels 
and travelling preachers. 

March 29, 1788, died Mr. Charles Wesley. He 
was a pious man, an able and useful preacher, and a 
most admirable writer of sacred poetry. 

1788. The 29th of July, this year, the forty-fifth con- 
ference was held in London. 

July 28, 1789, the forty-sixth conference began in 
Leeds. The most painful business of this conference 
was, respecting the chapel at Dewsbury. The trustees 
resisted the conference, and the conference resisted the 
trustees, till we lost the chapel, and religion received a 
wound in that place, though we got a new chapel. It 
was an unfortunate affair, and I think the trustees were 



PORTKAITURE OF METHODISM. 65 

greatly to blame : and perhaps the business might have 
been managed better on the part of the conference. 

July 27, 1790, and following days, the forty-seventh 
conference was held in Bristol. This was the last at 
which Mr. Wesley was present. There was nothing 
very remarkable at this conference, except that one oi 
the preachers was fined 20Z. for preaching out of doors in 
a neighbouring village. 

To every lover of Methodism, and especially to all 
who venerate the memory of Mr. Wesley, it will be in- 
teresting to see the state of our connexion at the time 
that he was taken from us, and received to his great re- 
ward. The state of Methodism stood thus : 

Circuits. Preachers. Members. 



In England, - - - 65 


196 


52,832 


In Ireland, - - - 29 


67 


14,100 


In Wales, - - - 3 


7 


566 


In Scotland - - - 8 


18 


1,086 


In the Isle of Man, 1 


3 


2,580 


In the Norman Isles, 2 


4 


498 


In the West India Isles, 7 


13 


4,500 


In the British Domin- > . 
ions in America, ) 


6 


800 






In the United States 7 ^ 
of America, $ 


198 


43,265 



Total, 216 511 120,233 

On Wednesday, March 2, 1791, at ten o'clock in the 
forenoon, Mr. Wesley departed this life, and entered in- 
to the joy of his Lord, whom he had so long loved and 
served. The request he had so often offered to God was 
fully granted. Often had he sung, 

" Till glad T lay this body down, 

Thy servant, Lord, attend ; 
And O ' my life of mercy crown 

With a triumphant-end." 

It would seem as if his Lord had said to him, " Be it 
unto thee even as thou wilt." 

When Mr. Wesley died, it was properly said, H A 
prince and a great man had fallen that day in Israel," 
2 Samu iiie 38. The word here rendered prince, some- 

p2 



66 A lltVE AND COMPX.ETK 

times means a leader, and sometimes a person of supe- 
rior or princely qualities. And in both these views it 
fitly applied to Mr. Wesley. 

Let us take an enlarged view of his character, and 
consider him, 

1. As a man of good mental capacity. All whoever 
knew him, could not but discover that he had by na- 
ture a strong and clear understanding. Without good 
natural abilities, as a foundation, no education, howev- 
er good, or long continued, can make an accomplished 
man. But, 

2. Mr. Wesley had a liberal education. The advan- 
tages arising from the knowledge of languages, and of 
arts and sciences, he possessed in a high degree. And 
he well knew how to apply these to the most useful 
purposes as a minister of the gospel. His mind was 
richly furnished with the various branches of literature. 
He was well acquainted with the ancient as well as 
several modern languages. In the learned languages he 
was allowed, by the best judges, to be a critic. But it 
was sacred literature which most engaged his attention. 
He was a great proficient in the Hebrew language, and 
had read the Old Testament, in that language, with 
singular attention. And in Greek, the original language 
of the New Testament, he was an able critic, and so 
conversant with it, that many times when he was at a 
loss to repeat a passage out of the New Testament in 
the words of our common translation, he was never at a 
loss to repeat it in the original Greek, which made it 
evident, that the words and phrases of the original, 
were more familiar to him than the words of the Eng- 
lish Bible* 

3. He studied also the works of creation with great 
attention, as the five volumes which he published on 
natural philosophy will sufficiently evince. 

4. The art of logic he had cultivated with much 
care, and in this science it has been generally ac- 
knowledged he was a master. But logic in his view of 
it, is not the art of wru^ling, or making distinctions 
where there is no difference ; but " The art of good 
sense j the art of comprehending things clearly; of 



PORTiUiITUftE OF METHODISM, 67 

judging truly; and of reasoning conclusively; or, in 
another view of it, the art of learning and teaching." 

5. As to morality and religion, his character was the 
very best. From his infancy he reverenced the name 
and the word of God. He habituated himself to at- 
tend to the ordinances of religion, and acted with the 
utmost conscientiousness and regularity as far as his 
understanding was informed. 

All these properties tended to qualify him for in- 
quiring after truth. And in consequence of making 
this inquiry in the most deep and serious manner, he 
was convinced that in one thing he was greatly lacking. 
And this thing was nothing less than the one thing need- 
ful ; or genuine experimental Christianity. Notwith- 
standing all his attainments, as a linguist, a philospher, 
and a student in divinity ; notwithstanding his know- 
ledge and fluency on religious subjects ; his alms-giving, 
his willingness to labour and suffer for the good of 
others, his self-denial, and taking up of his cross, this, 
he said he had learnt, that he had nothing in or of him- 
self to plead, nor any hope, but that if he sought he 
should find Christ, and be found in him, not having on 
his own righteousness, but that which is through the 
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by 
faith.* And this opinion was not taken up hastily, but 
was the result of serious and mature inquiry, a convic- 
tion of mind, founded on scriptural and rational views 
of God and himself. He used great caution in making 
up his mind upon the different doctrinal subjects. He 
searched the scriptures, and exerted the utmost faculties 
of his reasoning powers. He was an advocate for the 
exercise of reason in matters of religion, observing, that 
both our Lord and his apostles reasoned continually 
with their opposers, and that the strongest reasoner he 
had ever observed, excepting only Jesus of Nazareth, 
was Paul of Tarsus ; the man who left that plain direc- 
tion for all Christians, " In malice, or wickedness, be 
ye children; but in understanding, or reason, be ye 
men." 

Hi3 general view of religion, was agreeable to the na- 

* See the conclusion of hs$ first Journal,. 



68 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

ture of God and man, and their mutual relations. The 
outcry raised against him and his followers, as enthusi- 
asts and fanatics was groundless, and was the offspring 
of prejudice and ignorance. 

He viewed the gospel as a general display of the per- 
fections of God, in which they sweetly harmonize, and 
shine forth with peculiar lustre. As a dispensation of 
mercy to men, holding forth a free pardon of sin to all 
who repent and believe in Christ. As enjoining uni- 
versal holiness both in heart and life, being designed to 
regulate our affections, and govern our actions. The 
gospel holds forth blessings suited to our present state 
and necessities : wisdom to instruct us, grace to pardon 
and sanctify us ; together with promises of help and pro- 
tection through the snares and difficulties of life. 

These views of the gospel Mr. Wesley published, and 
that with such energy as made a deep and lasting im- 
pression upon his hearers. And in explaining the order 
in which gospel blessings are bestowed, he displayed a 
mind well instructed. He showed that the first step to- 
wards being a Christian is to repent," and that in order 
to this the conscience must be awakened, and that till 
a man be convinced of the evil of sin, he will not depart 
from it ; and that till he sees something beautiful in ho- 
liness, and desirable in being reconciled to God, the 
sinner is not duly prepared to receive the Lord Jesus 
Christ. Read Matt. xi. 17. Acts iii. 19.— xx. 20, 21. 

After repentance towards God, the next step is faith 
in our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God who ta- 
keth away the sin of the world, John i. 29. As the 
only and all-sufficient Saviour, Luke xix. 10. 1 Tim. 
i. 15. 1 Cor. i. 30. 

Mr. Wesley accurately distinguished sanctification 
from justification ; he showed that justification admits 
us into a state of grace and favour with God, into a 
state of fellowship with the Father and with his Son 
Jesus Christ; that being justified our relation to God 
is altered, our sins are forgiven, and we are become 
children of God, and heirs of all the great and rre- 
cious promises of the gosoel. But he did not stop 
here, but inculcated the necessity of sanctification, 
nay j urging believers to go on to perfection, Heb, vi. 1, 



PORTKAITURE OF METHODISM. 6$ 

2. This sometimes made even some pious persons, 
from mistaken views of his sentiments, raise a clamour 
against him. But he often and sufficiently explained 
his meaning, specifying that by perfection, he meant 
such a measure of love to God and man, and such an 
attachment to every thing that i lovely or of good 
report, that the heart will be averse to all evil, and 
readily disposed for every good word and work. 

Mr. Wesley maintained that God is love, and there- 
fore, he is loving unto every man, and his tender mer- 
cy is over all his works, Psalm cxlv. 9. He maintain- 
ed that Christ died for all, that all are invited to come 
to him for salvation, and that whosoever thus cometh 
to him he will in no wise cast out. He maintained 
that a sufficiency of grace is given to all, and that 
while all the glory of the salvation of those who get 
to heaven will belong to God, the blame of the dam- 
nation of those who go to hell will wholly belong to 
themselves. On this account he was sometimes termed 
an Arminian. And some who used the term, attached 
ideas to it, that were far from being just respecting £»*< 
Wesley. Some suppose that as an Arminian, he preach- 
ed salvation by works, and degraded Christ. But this 
was very erroneous. He preached the doctrine of free 
grace as much as any Calvinist, asserting that eternal 
life, and every degree of preparation for it, are all the 
free, undeserved gifts of God, Rom. vi. 23. Never- 
theless, he insisted upon good works as the necessary 
and indispensable fruits of faith. 

One point more must be briefly touched upon, I mean 
that of Christian experience. Many have supposed 
this to be mere imagination, and hence has arisen the 
charges of enthusiasm. But true Christian experience 
is real, and rests upon a foundation as solid as the evi- 
dence of our senses. 

Christian experience, is knowledge founded upon ex- 
periment, and is the present possession of the benefits 
of the gospel, which tends to prepare us for the future 
enjoyment of that eternal rest which remaineth for the 
people of God. If we use the word in the most com- 
prehensive sense, so as to include the receiving of 
Christ in his mediatorial offices, it will imply repent 



70 A TRtTE AND COMPLETE 

iance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
the various fruits of the Spirit, viz. love, joy, peace, 
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, fidelity, meekness, 
and temperance, Gal. v. 22, 23. 

In the New Testament we read of persons who did 
experience the witness and fruits of the Spirit. And it 
is certain that we may experience these also, if we seek 
them in the way which God has appointed. The evi- 
dence which a man has who experiences these things 
is of the strongest kind. If a man's understanding fee 
enlightened with gospel truths; if his conscience be 
awakened; it in consequence of this, he turns from his 
sins, is humbled and ashamed before God, and prays for 
mercy; is it possible that such a change as this should 
take place, in his views of himself, in the dictates of 
his conscience, and in his conduct, and he not know it ? 
And when a person is enabled to believe in the Lord 
Jesus Christ to the saving of his soul; to rest fully upon 
him for pardon and acceptance with God ; such a per- 
son must be conscious of this act of his mind, and the 
change in his views of God, and the feelings of Ms 
mind that consequently follow. Will he not be as con- 
scious and certain of these things as when he sees an 
object before him, or feels pleasure or pain? If he that 
believeth be filled with love, joy, peace, and the other 
fruits of the Spirit, must he not be certain of this ? Our 
internal consciousness carries the same conviction of 
reality with it as our external senses. Would it not ap- 
pear exceedingly absurd to you, if you heard a person 
say, that he loved an object dearly, but was not £jn- 
scious of any love ? That he rejoiced exceedingly in a 
thing, but that he did not feel any joy ? In like manner, 
if believing in Christ, I feel peace, I cannot but know this; 
and if I lookup to God through Jesus Christ with holy con- 
fidence,and feel joyful in his salvation,I must be conscious 
and certain of it. Christian Experience ,then, as Mr. Wes- 
ley explained it for so many years, both in preaching and 
writing, has certainty in it : if a man has it he cannot 
be ignorant of it. But we must say, that those who have 
it not, cannot form a just conception of it. It is impos- 
sible for those who have not felt the peace of God to 
form a just notion of it, The evidence of this stands 



PORTRAITURE OjF METHODISM. 71 

on the same ground as the evidence of our external 
senses. If a man had never seen colours, he could not 
form any true idea of them. And if a man had never 
felt pain or pleasure, he could not be taught to under- 
stand what they are, however perfect nis rational facul- 
ties might be. To know them he must feel them. It 
is just so in Christian experience. You must feel it, 
and then you will know what it is, and as easily distin- 
guish it from the feelings or consciousness arising from 
other things, as you distinguish seeing from hearing, or 
touching from smelling. 

Let us now glance at the labours of Mr. Wesley, and 
also the effects of them. From his earliest youth he was 
a person of the greatest diligence and industry. And 
when he became a preacher, and especially after he 
was more perfectly instructed in the genuine doctrines 
of the gospel, he was " instant in season, and out of 
season," being " in his labours more abundant than 
most ministers of the gospel." In him were united the 
necessary qualifications for useful study and active life. 
He preached in churches wherever he had an opportu- 
nity, not only in the commencement of what is termed 
Methodism, but to the conclusion of his long and labo- 
rious life. But in the beginning especially, the doc- 
trines he preached offended some, and the attendant 
crowds raised envy and jealousy in others, so that most 
of the churches were soon shut against him. He then 
went out into the highways, as well as into the streets 
and lanes of cities, to invite sinners to come to the gos- 
pel feast. By this step, he at once abandoned every 
former prospect of ease, honour, and wealth: while 
nothing presented itself to his view, for this world, but 
labour and weariness, accompanied with contempt, re- 
proach, and persecution. Most certainly nothing but a 
sense of duty could influence a man of such calm and 
deliberate reflection to take such a step. Mr. Wesley 
was regular and steady in his labours ; and these labours 
were carried to an astonishing extent. He endured 
many hardships, and suffered much reproach. And, 
what to some may appear more than this, he kept reg- 
ularly to his work, in defiance of the pleasure he found 
in reading and study, and the still more fascinating 
charms of rational and polite conversation. 



72 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

For more than sixty years he constantly rose at four 
o'clock in the morning. The work of God, in which 
he was engaged, occupied his time and attention, and 
considering it as the great business of his life, he made 
every thing else subservient to it. 

His industry was almost incredible, and perhaps 
without a parallel. Sixteen hours out of every twenty- 
four, from four in the morning till eight in the evening, 
his time was industriously employed in reading, wri- 
ting, preaching, regulating the affairs of his societies, 
and travelling. During a few of his last years he trav- 
elled in a carriage, the expences of which were borne 
by a few friends. Prior to this, he travelled on horse- 
back, and often for thirty, forty, or fifty miles in a day, 
besides preaching twice, thrice, or four times. If we 
consider the whole of his labours, and compare them 
with those of many other men who have been deemed 
industrious, we might almost say that he lived life twice 
or thrice over. 

But what has attracted the most public attention are 
the effects of Mr. Wesley's labours. These, in conjunc- 
tion with those of his brother Charles and Mr. White- 
field, and their helpers and successors, have had a most 
extensive influence on all denominations of professing 
Christians in the British empire, and the United States 
of America ; and their influence, in some measure, has 
extended to various other nations. They have had, es- 
pecially, no small influence on many ministers of the 
different denominations, in awakening their attention 
to the genuine essential doctrines of the gospel, and the 
duties of the Christian ministry, though some of these 
ministers have been ashamed to acknowledge it. At 
any rate, the labours of these men, and especially those 
of Mr. Wesley, have under God, produced the whole 
body of Methodists, now so numerous in Great-Britain 
and Ireland, in the West-Indies, and on the American 
continent. And wherever these are found, with very 
few, if any exceptions, they are more unblameable and 
exemplary in their conduct than they were before ; 
breathe more of a true Christian spirit, and display more 
of genuine Christianity, than they ever did before, and 
that in every state, relation and condition in life. And 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 73 

the Methodists are not only better Christians and citi- 
zens than they were before, but better subjects also. It 
is one rule of the society, that all the members of it 
shall yield subjection to the laws of the land, and render 
tribute to the state as required, avoiding smuggling and 
every practice of this sort. 

In these labours of love, and productive of so manjr 
and so good effects, did Mr. Wesley spend between fif- 
ty and sixty years of his life. 

His travels were incessant, and almost unparalleled. 
Without the greatest punctuality and care in the man* 
agement of his time, lie could not have gone through 
his abundant and diversified labours. But he had sta- 
ted hours for every purpose, and he did not suffer one 
thing to interfere with another. Between nine and 
ten o'clock he regularly retired to rest, and rose soon 
after four in the morning ; and no business, company, 
or conversation, could induce him to depart from his 
rules of conduct. He wrote, travelled, visited the sick, 
and did every thing else in hours appointed, which 
hours were inviolable. To ascertain the precise mea- 
sure of Mr. Wesley's labours, would be an impossible 
task. His public ministrations were but a part of 
them. But from these, we may form some conception 
of the rest. For more than fifty years successively, he 
generally preached twice every day, and not unfre- 
ijuently four or five times. To these may be added 
numberless exhortations addressed to the societies after 
preaching, with various other employments. The low- 
est calculation we can make of his travels will be four 
thousand miles annually, which in fifty-two years will 
make two hundred and eight thousand miles. And at 
the lowest computation in these fifty-two years, from 
1739 to 1791, he could not preach fewer than forty 
thousand, four hundred and sixty sermons. He read a 
great deal as he travelled. Even when he travelled 
on horseback, which he did till he was very old, he 
would travel forty, fifty, or sixty miles a day, with a 
book in his hand. 

To look at him he was a very slow writer. Yet, by 
constant, unwearied, and persevering application, what 
numbers of volumes did he publish! In addition to thess 



T& A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

publications, perhaps he wrote a greater number of 
letters to the preachers, various members of the socie- 
ties, and other persons, than were ever written by any 
man in the world. 

No man could ever with greater propriety adopt the 
apostle's language, and say, " Are they Apostles ? I 
more, in labours more abundant" What man ever la- 
boured so constantly, so abundantly, so anweariedly, 
and for so long a time, as Mr. Wesley ? This his labo- 
riousness sprung from a true and living faith, in the 
being and attributes of God, the truth and divinity of 
the scriptures, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. This 
faith wrought by love, purified the heart, overcame the 
world, and produced inward and outward holiness.*— 
He walked worthy of the vocation wherewith he was 
called. A man so holy and unblameable, so laborious 
in the best of employments, and influenced by the 
purest, noblest motives, some might have supposed, 
would have glided through the world with honour, and 
that the world in general would have applauded and 
blessed him. But he found it necessary to remember 
the words of our Saviour, " Blessed are ye, when men 
revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of 
evil of you falsely, for my name's sake.'" A truly em- 
inent man has a double character, being highly ap- 
plauded by some, and grievously slandered by others. 
If universal approbation and applause had been to be 
secured by wisdom, by holiness, or any thing that is 
lovely, or of good report, surely Jesus Christ and his 
apostles, would have secured it. But this we know was 
not the case. They went through evil report as well 
as good report, and through dishonour as well as honour. 
And in this respect did Mr. Wesley drink largely of 
the cup which they drank of. Nay, it is remarkable, 
that he was reproached especially by the clergy, from 
the least even unto the greatest, from the needy curate, 
and half fledged youth, up to " doctor's grave, and pre- 
lates of threescore." Many of those said all manner of 
evil of him falsely. It is not difficult to accuse : but 
in point of proof, accusers are often found wanting. 
This was most remarkably the case with .regard to tjie 
accusers of Mr. Wesley. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 75 

The only crime his accusers ever proved, was, "Thai 
he laboured more, and he was more beloved" But, we 
have before seen, in the brief account of the persecutions 
of the Methodists, that Mr. Wesley did not merely suf- 
fer reproach, but opposition in every possible form, and 
frequently from tumultuous mobs, when rude fellows, 
men of the baser sort, sons of Belial, opposed and vilified 
the right ways of the Lord. From these he was in per- 
ils in country towns and villages, and in the great and 
populous cities. It was not enough, that frequently he 
had no temple but the wide creation, no pulpit but a wall, 
a table, or a stone : no sounding board, but the canopy 
of Heaven ; but mistaken mortals, for whose sake he 
had suffered the loss of all things, and for whose salva- 
tion he had consented to be vile in the eyes of the world, 
were often exceedingly mad against him, and would cry 
out, " Away with him, away with such a fellow from 
the earth." Yet none of these things moved him, 
neither counted he his life dear unto himself, so he might 
finish his course with joy, and the ministry he had re- 
ceived of the Lord Jesus. He was patient in doing 
well, and bearing ill ; in all these things he was more 
than conqueror; and like the Captain of his salvation, 
was made perfect through suffering. But what was it 
which supported and cheered him unde, r all these things ? 
Why, the clear view he had of the vast importance of 
spiritual and eternal things ; the great worth of an im- 
mortal soul ; the joys of heaven, and the beauty of holi- 
ness. A full conviction that he was in the way of his 
duty ; the approving testimony of his own conscience 
the success with which the Lord crowned his labours ; 
and the good hope, through grace, which he had of an 
abundant and everlasting kingdom of our God and Sa- 
viour. Many have represented him as a man of slen- 
der capacity ; but certainly with great injustice. His 
writings, and his controversial writings more especially, 
will fully prove the contrary. To this may be added 
the office he filled with such distinction at Oxford, and 
the great abilities which he displayed in the government 
of his preachers and people. As a writer, he possessed 
talents both from nature and education. What he was 



76 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

as a preacher, may be gathered from the nine volumes 
of his sermons, which are in so many hands. 

His attitude in the pulpit was graceful and easy ; his 
action calm and natural, yet pleasing and expressive ; 
bis voice was not loud, but clear, agreeable, and mascu- 
line; and his style was neat, perspicuous, and pleasing. 

When he had time to make proper preparation for the 
pulpit, he was admirable ; when his numerous employ- 
ments, and great fatigues in travelling, prevented this, 
he was sometimes not so excellent. Yet when fatigue 
of body, peculiar exercises of mind, or want of time for 
premeditation, caused Mm to fall short of his general 
excellence, the observation of Dr. Beattie, of Aberdeen, 
who heard him on one such occasion, was generally 
verified, u It was not a masterly sermon, yet none but a 
master could have preached it.'" 

The figure of Mr. Wesley was remarkable. In per- 
son, he was rather below the middle size, but remarka- 
bly well proportioned. He had a good constitution, and 
seemed not to have the smallest quantity of superfluous 
flesh. In every period of his life, his habit of body was 
the reverse of corpulent, and was expressive of the 
strictest temperance, and constant exercise. He wag 
muscular and strong, till a very few years before his 
death ; had a firm step, and was a remarkably good 
walker. His face was remarkably fine even to old 
age; and the freshness of his complexion continued 
to the last week of his life : his whole countenance was 
remarkably expressive; few saw him without being 
struck with his appearance; and numbers, who had 
been greatly prejudiced against him, have conceived 
sentiments of esteem and veneration for him, as soon as 
they have been introduced into his presence. His 
face, for an old man, was one of the finest that ever 
was seen : he had a clear, smooth forehead, an aqui- 
line nose, and an eye as bright and piercing as can be 
imagined. In his countenance and behaviour, there 
was an admirable mixture of cheerfulness and gravity. 

In dress, he was a pattern of plainness and neatness. 
His coat was without a cape, and with a small upright 
collar; he wore a narrow plated stock about his neck, 
and no silk or velvet in any pa p t of his apparel. And 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 57 

not only in his person and dress, but in every thing he 
was a model of neatness. In his chamber and study, 
during the winter months, when he resided in London, 
his books, his papers, and every thing belonging to him, 
were in the most perfect order. He seemed to be al- 
ways at home ; and yet was always ready to start upon 
the longest journey. 

In private he was cheerful and communicative ; his 
conversation was pleasing, and frequently very in- 
structive. He had been much accustomed to society; 
knew how to behave to different descriptions of people, 
and possessed and practised true politeness. He spoke 
a good deal in company in general ; and the knowledge 
he had acquired by reading, travelling, and observation, 
he liberally communicated, and that in the most pleas-, 
ing and attracting manner. The late celebrated Dr. 
Johnson was personally acquainted with him, and his 
judgment of Mr; Wesley's manner of conversation is 
left on record ; he said, " Mr. Wesley's conversation 
is good ; he talks well on any subject ; I could con-v 
verse with him alL night."* 

* The following letter will give the world a just notion of 
the high opinion which Dr. Johnson had of this extraordinary 
man. 

"Sir, 
M When I received your Commentary on the Bible, I durst 
not, at first, flatter myself that I was to keep it, having so lit- 
tle claim to so valuable a present; and when Mrs. Hall in- 
formed me of your kindness, was hindered from time to time 
from returning you those thanks which I how entreat you to 
accept. 

"I have thanks likewise to return for the addition of your 
important suffrage to my argument on the American question. 
To have gained such a mind as yours may justly confirm me 
in my own opinion. What effect my paper has had upon the 
public I know not ; but I have now no reason to be discouraged. 
The lecturer was surely in the right who, though he saw his 
audience slinking away, refused to quit the chair while Plato- 
stayed. 

"I am, 

" Reverend Sir, 

" Your most humble servant, 

" SAM. JOHNSON." 
Feb. 6, 1776. 

a 2 



8 A TBim ANB COMftLETl* 

He joined in all conversation that was unblameabig, 
and his cheerfulness was remarkable, and continued to 
the end of his life. He generally concluded the con- 
versation with two or three verses of a hymn, illustrating 
the subject of discourse. 

His natural temper was warm and vehement. Reli- 
gion had done much in correcting this, yet it was still 
visible. Persecution from without he bore without 
wrath, and, apparently, almost without feeling. But 
when he was opposed by his preachers or people, his dis- 
pleasure was visible. But never did the sun go down 
upon his wrath, nor did he in this respect give place to 
the devil ; generally it was over almost in a moment : 
he was easily pacified, and ready to forgive injuries and 
affronts. It has been said of him, that 

fi He carrrie'd anger as the flint bears fire : 
Which, much enforced, shows a hasty spark;, 
And straight is cold again." 

Of this imperfection, however, he was very sensible, and 
very readily acknowledged it, and sometimes asked for- 
giveness in such a spirit of genuine humility, as greatly 
affected those who witnessed it. 

His liberality to the poor knew no bounds, but want 
of ability to help them more abundantly ; after barely 
providing for his own wants, he devoted all the rest to 
the necessities of others. In mercy to the bodies of 
men, the philanthrophic Mr. Howard came the nearest 
to him of any of our day, Mr. Howard was the friend, 
acquaintance, and admirer of Mr. Wesley. And he was 
stimulated to a more vigorous prosecution of his own 
benevolent plan, by observing in the case of Mr. Wes 
ley, what a single man might do by zeal and perseve- 
rance. To relieve and help the poor, was with him a 
luxury of life. He considered them as if they existed 
that the followers of Christ might have an opportunity 
of showing what benevolence they would show to their 
Divine Master had he been now upon earth. 

Mr. Wesley, from the profits of his publications, &c. 
might have accumulated a large fortune ; but he laid up 
his treasure not on earth, but in heaven. Whatever he 
received, and from whatever source, qnly went through 






FORTRAITTTOE OF METHODISM. 7% 

his hands, but did not remain in them. In the numerous 
chaoels which were built for himself and his helpers t6 
preach in, he neither secured nor claimed the least per- 
sonal property : and when he displayed a zealous con- 
cern that these should be properly settled, it was not 
on account of any personal advantage, but that it should 
not be in the power of a few changeable, capricious in- 
dividuals, to alienate these buildings from the purpose 
for which they were built. 

When he felt the infirmities of extreme old age still 
increasing upon him, he would not omit any of his for- 
mer duties, or exercises, but kept on till he dropt in the 
harness. His prayer continually was, "Lord, let me 
not live useless." And at every place, after he had 
given the society what he had desired them to consider 
as his last advice, To love as brethren, to fear God, and 
honour the king; he constantly gave out, and sung with 
the people, 

C( O that without a lingering groan, 
I may the welcome word receive ; 

My body with my charge lay down, 
And cease at once to work and live." 

His prayer was granted t and he departed this life in 
joyful hope of a better. 

The expiring patriarch Joseph said, " I die, but God 
shall be with you :" and Mr. Wesley's last words were, 
" The best of ail is, God is with us." Which words are 
now the motto upon the official seal of the Conference. 

A man of more extraordinary character than Mr. 
Wesley probably never lived upon this earth. He was 
a person of sincere, unaffected, and exemplary piety.—- 
And for more than fifty years successively, his great 
and various labours w r ere most astonishing. His tra-* 
vels, his studies, and his ministerial labours, were each 
of them, when taken separately, more than sufficient 
for any ordinary man* Few men could have endured 
to travel so much as he did, without either preaching, 
writing, or reading* Pew could have endured to preach 
as often as he did, supposing they had neither travelled 
nor written books. And very few men could have 
written and published so many books as he did, though 
they had always avoided both preaching and travelling 



8# A TRUE ANB COMPLETE 

That which I think peculiarly characteristic of him ? 
was his freedom from extremes, and his every excel- 
lence having its proper bounds. Hence, 

1. He was neither a Pharisee nor an Antinomian; 
but his personal religion, and his religious system, 
were both evangelical and moral. 

2. He was neither a latitudinarian nor a bigot. His 
own principles were fixed; and yet he was candid and 
liberal towards men whose sentiments were different 
from his. 

3. There was in him an admirable mixture of the 
Wisdom of the serpent, and the harmlessness of the dove. 

4. He possessed, practised, and propagated, a reli- 
gion that was neither formal nor superstitious, but botk 
spiritual and rational. 

5. Some persons are meek, but not courageous; oth- 
ers are courageous, but deficient in meekness ; but he 
was both courageous and meek ; and it is hard to say 
which of these virtues he most excelled in. 

6. Some people's gravity sinks into dulness, while 
the vivacity of others degenerates into levity ; ; but he 
was cheerful without being light, and grave without be- 
ing sad. 

7. His zeal was tempered with moderation, while 
his moderation was inspired with zeal. He was always 
employed, yea, always abounding in the work of the 
Lord, yet so managed himself and Jiis work, as that he 
was still able to do to-morrow as he had done to-day, 
and this with very little variation fo* more than half a 
eentury. 

In point of great, extensive, and long-continued use- 
fulness, I believe no history furnishes a character equal 
to that of Mr. Wesley. And were it necessary, the 
truth of this testimony would be attested by thousands, 
and tens of thousands, for among the miners in Corn- 
wall, the colliers about Kingswood and Newcastle-up- 
on-Tyne, and other reformed and regenerated sinners, 
in almost every city, town, and village in the united, 
kingdom. Many have done excellently, but he excel- 
led them all. And he laid such a foundation for the 
continuation of the work, that it is already more thaiiL 
doubled. 



rORTFAITURE OF METHODISM. 81 

July 26, 1791, the forty-eighth conference assembled 
at Manchester, according to the appointment of the 
last conference. — -More than two hundred preachers 
were present ; and every one seemed sensible of the 
loss the connexion had sustained. Mr, Wm. Thomp- 
son was chosen president, and Dr. Coke secretary. 

The sticklers for what was called the Old Plan, hav- 
ing printed and circulated their opinions and wishes, 
and vehemently urging a conformity to them, naturally 
provoked replies from those in different places, who 
wished to see something more conformable to their ideas 
of Christian liberty. Thus a dispute was created which 
continued for several years to convulse the societies, 
and to perplex and distress the preachers. To supply 
the want of Mr. Wesley's general superintendence, the 
plan of districts was adopted, making a number of cir- 
cuits to compose a district ; there being mostly not less 
than three, nor more than eight circuits in a district $ 
in general there were five. England was divided into 
seventeen districts, Ireland into five, Scotland into 
two, and Wales formed but one. The Lord was better 
to us than our fears, and almost exceeded what we had 
ventured to hope. We broke up in peace and harmony, 
with cheering prospects, and thankful hearts. 

On the 31st of July, 1 792, our forty-ninth conference 
began in London: Mr. Alexander Mather, president, 
and Dr. Coke, secretary. Several circumstances con- 
tributed to make this an uncomfortable conference. — » 
One was, the dispute with Dr. Whitehead, about wri- 
ting the life of Mr. Wesley. After much of what was 
very unpleasant, the business ended in the publication 
of two separate lives of Mr. Wesley, one by Dr. White- 
head, and the other by Dr. Coke and Mr. Moore. 

At this time there was much uneasiness in the con- 
nexion, occasioned by contentions about the propriety 
©r impropriety of having the service in church-hours, 
and the Lord's Supper administered among us in some 
places. Touching this last particular, the conference 
was much embarrassed. It was at last agreed to decide 
the matter by lot : artd this decided, that the Lord's 
Supper should not be administered in the societies for that 
year. This was made known to the people by an ad- 



82 A TRUE AND COMMiEtfE 

dress, and was the first instance of the conference ad- 
dressing the people. This has been done repeatedly 
since, and sometimes with good success. 

The rules of the preachers' fund were considered, en- 
larged, and somewhat altered ; meantime the annual 
subscription of each preacher to the fund was raised 
from half a guinea to a guinea. 

Our fiftieth conference met in Leeds, and began bu- 
siness July 29, 1793 : Mr. John Pawson, president, and 
Dr. Coke, secretary. This conference came to the 
determination, that the societies should have the Lords's 
Supper where they unanimously desired it. 

July 28, 1794, and some following days, the fifty- 
first conference was held in Bristol : Mr. Thomas Han- 
by, president, and Dr. Coke, secretary. 

Several things caused this to be an unpleasant con- 
ference. Trustees from many of the principal societies 
assembled in Bristol, at the same time as the conference. 
Their addresses, and the negociations we thought pro- 
per to enter into with them, were productive of many 
difficulties. 

During the ensuing year, the connexion was general- 
ly and greatly convulsed. The chief part of these v agit- 
ations sprung, either immediately or remotely, from the 
following circumstance. The trustees of the Old 
Room, and of Guinea-street chapel, in Bristol, were 
exceedingly averse to any deviation from what was 
termed The Old Plan. The LordVSupper, and ser- 
vice in church hours, had been recently introduced, in 
a new place called Portland ehapel, in the suburbs of 
the city. And one of the preachers appointed for that 
circuit, being friendly to this alledged innovation, the 
trustees before-mentioned resolved upon strong mea- 
sures. Accordingly,, they employed an attorney to 
write to him, charging him at his perils not to trespass 
on their premises, as they had not appointed him to preach 
therein, and because no other person had any authority 
so to do. This, if submitted to, would have created a 
precedent, which might have subjected many other 
preachers to a similar discharge from different pulpits, 
by the authority of a few hostile men, without a trial, 
or even an accusation, and contrary to the judgment 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 8S 

and wishes of the chief part of the people, both in the 
town and circuit, as was the case in this instance.* — 
This measure occasioned a great struggle, in which the 
chief part of the whole connexion, in some measure, 
partook. But the cause of the trustees was indefensi* 
ble, though some attempted to defend them, and a ma- 
jority of both preachers and people declared against 
them. This discomfited and confounded the party, and 
prevented worse consequences which would have follow- 
ed, and that upon a general scale. 

July 27, 1795 the fifty-second conference began at 
Manchester : Mr. Joseph Bradford, president, and Dr. 
Coke, secretary. The first day was employed in fast- 
ing and prayer, that the Almighty would enable us to 
keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Nor 
did we ask in vain. The next morning it was agreed, 
to choose by ballot a committee of nine preachers, to 
form a plan of pacification, in order to put an end to 
the present disputes, and prevent the like in future. — 
This plan was accepted by the conference, with some 
modifications, and was agreed to also by a large majority 
of the trustees who were assembled at the same time 
and place, from various parts of the connexion. See 
the plan of pacification in the Minutes of 1 795. 

1796. On July 26, this year, the fifty-third confe- 
rence commenced its sittings in London : Mr. Thomas 
Taylor president, and Dr. Coke secretary. 

The most notable act of this conference was the ex- 
pulsion of Alexander Kilham, for divers things which 
he had lately published in a pamphlet, called " The 
Progress of Liberty," and others of the like nature and 
tendency. In many respects, his conduct in these 
publications was unjustifiable. Afterwards in the pul- 
pits of dissenters, where he gained admission, and from 
the press, he endeavoured to justify his conduct, and to 
bring the preachers into contempt with the Methodists, 
and with all men. But his race was soon run, for De^ 
cember 20, 1798, he died of a short illness, occasioned 
by a bone sticking in his throat. Prior to this, howev- 
er, he had effected great divisions in various parts of 
eur connexion. 

July 31, 1797, the fifty-fourth conference began its 



4ft A TRtTH AND COMPLETE 

sittings in Leeds; Dr. Coke, president, and Mr. Samu- 
el Bradburn, secretary. — During the year preceding, 
great preparations had been made for a considerable di- 
vision of the societies, especially in the Leeds, Sheffield, 
Stockport, Manchester, Huddersfield, and Nottingham 
circuits. About five thousand became a separate party. 
For fear of a larger division, the conference agreed to 
make considerable sacrifices, the preachers resigning 
considerable portions of powers respecting temporal 
matters, division of circuits, receiving and excluding 
members, the appointment and removal of leaders, 
stewards, and local preachers. It is doubtful whether 
the concessions made were not something larger than 
will be for the general good, and more than scripture 
and reason will justify. 

July 30, 1 798, the fifty-fifth conference began in Bris- 
tol : Mr. Joseph Benson, president, and Mr. Samuel 
Bradburn, secretary. — Very little that was either new 
or extraordinary occured at this conference. 

During the preceding year, the Methodists in Ireland 
had been greatly distressed by the savage rebellion in 
that country. Their address to the English conference 
said, " Loss of trade, breach of confidence, fear of as- 
sassination, towns burnt, countries laid waste, houses 
for miles without an inhabitant, the air tainted with 
the stench of thousands of putrid carcases, form some 
outlines of the melancholy picture of our times." Ma- 
ny of our people, and some of the preachers, were expo* 
sed to considerable sufferings. The English conference 
so sympathized with their Irish brethren, that they 
agreed the wants of Ireland should be supplied before 
those of England. 

Ju*y 29, 1799, the fifty-sixth conference opened at 
Manchester: Mr. Samuel Bradburn, president, and Dr. 
Coke, secretary,— It was a conference of great peace. 
We were, however, greatly embarrassed for want of 
money to meet the deficiencies and distresses of many 
brethren. And there was no resource but the making 
an extraordinary collection in the different circuits. 

Let us again survey the state of the connexion in re- 
§pect to number of circuits, preachers and members ; 



PORTKAITURE 02? METHODISM. 85 

Circuits. Preachers. Members 

In England, ■> - 107 283 34,429 

In Ireland, 34 83 16,227 

In Scotland, - - 6 18 1,117 

In Wales, * - 5 11 1,195 

In the Isle of Man, « 1 4 4,100 

In the Norman Isles, 1 7 734 

In the West Indies, 13 23 1 1 ,1 70 
In the British Dominions 

in America, - 13 8 1,610 
In the United States of 

America, * - 109 400 60,169 



Total, 360 940 130,751 

July 28, 1800, the fifty-seventh conference began in 
London : Mr, James Wood, president, and Mr. Brad- 
burn secretary. This conference recommended to the 
quarterly meetings, where it was not already done, to 
raise the preacher's quarterly allowance to four pounds, 
And it was also remarkable for a Loyal Address to the 
King, which tje London Gazette, of August 8, 1800, 
said, " His Majesty was pleased to receive very gra- 
ciously." 

July 27, 1801, the fifty-eighth conference began in 
Leeds : Mr. John Pawson, president, being the second 
time he was chosen to this office, and Dr* Coke, sec- 
retary. 

At this conference^ it was determined that a general 
public collection should be made for the missions, which 
had chiefly till now been supported by private subscrip- 
tions. And it was now agreed also, that all our ordina- 
ry deficiencies should be paid at the district-meetings, 
The conference broke up above seventeen hundred 
pounds in debt, after having drawn a large sum from 
the Book-room, owing to the large demands made upon 
it by the poorer circuits. 

1802. The fifty-ninth conference sat July 26, in 
Bristol. A few cases of impropriety had been pointed 
out, which induced the conference to make the follow- 
ing resolutions : 

1 ? We exhort the preachers' wives to dress as b?- 

H 



86 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

cometh those who profess to walk with God ; and we 
direct their husbands to use all the influence of love 
and piety in this behalf. 

2. We insist upon it, that the preachers set the best 
example in dress and every thing. 

3. We recommend our people to kneel at prayer. 
4* To stand while singing. 

5. Let preachers' wives and children attend the 
preaching at every opportunity. 

This conference determined also, that preachers pro- 
posed to travel, should be examined before the breth- 
ren at the district meetings, and passed many useful and 
necessary regulations in respect to the West India Mis- 
sionaries. 

At this conference Mr. Joseph Taylor was the pre- 
sident, and Dr. Coke was the secretary. 

July the 25th, 1803, the sixtieth annual conference 
began in Manchester : Mr. Joseph Bradford, president, 
(this being the second time of his election to that office,) 
and Dr. Coke, secretary. This conference declared 
very strongly against exhorters or local preachers get- 
ting licences to escape parish offices, or being balloted 
io serve in the militia. See the General Rules. 

July 30, 1804, the sixty-first conference began in 
London: Mr. Henry Moore, president, and Dr. Coke, 
secretary. This year a committee was appointed to 
manage the missions, whereas formerly they had been 
chiefly managed by i>r. Coke : and the doctor was 
appointed General Superintendent of all our missions. 
This conference, convinced that individuals petitioning 
for preachers had a direct tendency to destroy, by de- 
grees, the itinerant plan, resolved that no petition be 
attended to, but what comes from a regular quarterly 
meeting. 

July 29, 1805, the sixty-second conference began at 
Sheffield, being the first ever held in this town ; Dr. 
Coke, president, and Mr. Joseph Benson, secretary.— 
This was a notable conference, and made some excel- 
lent rules, and some of an inferior nature.* It was 
agreed, that the district committees should not meddle 

* See the business of a conference in the chapter on Discipline. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 87 

with stationing the preachers ; that no letters concern- 
ing stations should be regarded, except what came 
from a majority at a regular quarterly meeting ; and 
that letters coming from committees should have no 
more attention paid to them than those coming from in- 
dividuals ; but that letters from the quarterly meetings, 
should be read in the stationing committee, and then 
in the conference. 

This conference commiserated poor preachers with 
families, stationed in poor circuits, and recommended 
all the circuits to give them a regular weekly board* 
This conference concluded above 800Z in debt* 

July 28, 1806, the sixty-third annual conference be- 
gan in Leeds : Mr. Adam Clarke, president, and Dr. 
Coke, secretary. The most notable transaction of this 
conference was the expulsion of Mr. Joseph Cook. He 
had been accused at the conference preceding this, of 
holding and preaching unsound doctrines, particularly 
respecting the nature of faith, and the witness of the 
Spirit. A year was allowed him to reconsider the 
matter, and then to give in his sentiments : in the 
mean time he was requested to keep his peculiar no- 
tions to himself, which he promised to do. But in a 
few months after, he published two sermons on these 
subjects. Many still wished to save him ; but he was 
so obstinate, that without great inconsistency and im- 
propriety, the conference could not continue to employ 
him. He settled in Rochdale, and soon finished his 
course, dying in March, 1811. 

July 27, 1807, the sixty-fourth conference began in 
Liverpool, which was the first time of a conference be- 
ing held there, Mr. John Barber, president, and Dr. 
Coke, secretary. Some important rules were passed, 
admirably calculated to preserve a purity of doctrine 
and morals in the connexion, among which is the fol- 
lowing. " No person shall, on any account, be permit- 
ted to retain any official situation in our societies, who 
hold opinions contrary to the total depravity of human 
nature, the divinity and atonement of Christ, the influ- 
ence and witness of the Holy Spirit, and Christian ho» 
liness, as believed by the Methodists." 



Sh A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

It was expected that we should have seriously and 
maturely considered some previous discussions of the 
different district meetings on the subject of a plan for 
educating the young preachers ; and also respecting ar- 
ticles of faith, or a summary of our doctrines, which jt 
was proposed to prepare and publish. But for these 
things we found no Mme. 

This conference wisely enforced a former rule, " That 
no charge brought by one preacher against another in 
the same district, shall be heard in the conference, un- 
less previously explained at the district meeting, if the 
matter alledged in such charge was then in existence; 
and that all charges shall be previously announced, 
personally, or in writing, to the brother against whom 
they are directed." 

It was agreed at this conference, also, that a collec- 
tion should be made in all our congregations for the 
support of that excellent institution, The British and 
Foreign Bible Society, which was done accordingly, and 
amounted to about 1 ,300/.* 

July 25, 1808, the sixty-fifth conference commenced 
its labours in Bristol, Mr. James Wood, president, and 
Dr. Coke, secretary. This conference was a very labo- 
rious one to those who took the most active part in its 
business. We sat close ; we were about two hundred 
and fifty preachers; and some part of the time the wea- 
ther was extremely hot. But a conference more free 
from all undue influence and party-spirit, where more 
impartiality, free discussion, good temper, and general 
satisfaction prevailed, we never had. 

On Monday, July 31, 1809, our sixty-sixth confer- 
ence began in Manchester, and continued till Thurs- 
day, August the 1 7th. We had many things which cal- 
led for thankfulness : but upon the whole it was rather 
a trying, as well as tedious conference. Mr. Thomas 
Taylor was the president, and Mr. Joseph Benson the 
secretary. 

The state of our finances at this time was truly alarm- 
ing, as we found a deficiency in the contingent fund of 
3,019/. Is, 6& This gave occasion to the conference 

* See Methodist Magazine for 18{)8 



PORTRAITURE 0*" METHODISM. 89 

to resolve, that no larger sum than thirty pounds shall 
ever be allowed for furniture to any one house ; that the 
yearly subscription, after being made as usual in the 
classes, shall be mentioned in our principal congrega- 
tions, that such of our hearers as are not in society, and 
wish to be fellow-helpers to the truth, may have an op- 
portunity ; and that before the deficiencies brought from 
any circuit be paid at the district meeting, inquiry shall 
be made whether such circuit has complied with our 
rules respecting contributions, by raising on the average, 
one penny per week, and one shilling per quarter for 
each member. If it appear that the rules have not been 
complied with, the payment of the deficiencies must be 
suspended, and the case submitted to the decision of 
the conference. 

It was agreed also, that the district meetings shall 
present a plan to the conference for stationing the chil- 
dren, to enable the conference to determine what num- 
ber shall be supported by each circuit. But, though 
this plan has repeatedly been agreed upon, the execu- 
tion of it is still delayed. 

To prevent any local preacher from getting licensed 
with a view to escape parish-officers and the militia, the 
conference determined, that any person who applies for 
a license, without the previous knowledge and consent 
of the superintendent and his colleagues, and of the lo- 
cal preachers, or quarterly meeting of the circuit in 
which he resides, shall not be suffered to preach among us. 

The conference also strongly recommended to all 
Methodist families, to set apart some time every Lord's 
clay for catechising and instructing their children. 

It will not be foreign to the subject under considera- 
tion, to mention the following affair, It is well known 
to many, that when Mr. Kilham and his party separa* 
ted from the connexion, they took possession of several 
of our chapels, though they were settled upon the con- 
ference plan. After enduring this outrageous wrong for 
some years, it was determined to make an appeal to the 
court of Chancery, selecting the case of Brighouse 
chapel, near Halifax, principally with a view to try the 
general question. On the 5th day of March^ 1810, the 
cause was heard an4 determined before the Master of 

u 2 



90 A TRUE'AM) COMPLETE 

the Rolls. It was decreed, " That, as what was now 
called in the pleadings, for the sake of distinction, The 
old conference was the only conference which existed 
at the time of the execution .of the trust-deed, and for 
many years afterward, it must be determined to be that 
conference only which was referred to in the deed — 
And as the trustees had not reserved, by any clause in 
the deed, power of making new regulations, by any de- 
cision of a majority of themselves, they must be com- 
pelled to execute the trust according to the laws and re- 
gulations of that conference, for the use of which they 
held the trust-estate, and admit those preachers only 
.who were sent by the old conference." This decision 
is of the more importance, as there are several other 
chapels in the same circumstances. 

A Copy of the minutes of the Decree made by the 
Master of the Rolls. 

Monday, March 5th, 1310. 

Attorney General ver* Pratt. 

" Declare that the indenture, bearing date the 5th of 
July, 1795, in the pleadings stated ought to be establish- 
ed, and the trusts thereof performed and carried into ex- 
ecution ; and that the chapel in the pleadings mention- 
ed, and the affairs thereof ought to be regulated under, 
and by virtue of the terms of the before-mentioned in- 
denture ; and let the defendants, Joseph Pratt, James 
Avison, John Sowden, and John Booth, permit and suf- 
fer the person or persons as shall be nominated and 
appointed by the yearly conference, mentioned and re- 
ferred to in the said deed, and under the pleadings called 
the Old Conference, to enter into, and upon, have, use, 
and enjoy the said chapel for the several purposes in the 
said indenture of the 5th day of July, 1 795, particularly 
mentioned; and refer it to the Master to take an ac* 
count of the rents of the several pews, seats, and other 
profits of the said chapel, and the premises in the said 
indenture mentioned, come to the hands of the said de- 
fendants, Joseph Pratt, James Avison, John Sowden, 
sotd Joha Booth, aiid of 4he -application thereof. In tjie 



PORTRAITV&E OF METHODISM. 91 

taking of which account the said Master is to make un- 
to the parties such allowance for what has been already 
paid to the officiating minister, for the duty done in the 
said chapel : and the said Master is to inquire and state 
to the court what monies have been laid out and advan- 
ced by the plaintiff, John Sharp, for the building of the 
three messuages in the pleadings mentioned, and of the 
interest accrued due thereon, and under what agree- 
ment such monies were so laid out ; and for the better 
taking of the said accounts, and discovery of the mat- 
ters aforesaid, the parties are to produce before the said 
Master upon oath, all books, papers, and writings in 
their custody, or power, relating thereto, and are to be 
examined upon interrogatories, as the said Master shall 
direct, who in taking of the said accounts, is to make 
unto the parties all just allowances, and reserve the con- 
sideration of the costs of this suit, and of all further di- 
rections, until after the Master shall have made his re- 
port, and any of the parties are to be at liberty to apply 
to this court, as there shall be occasion." 

The comparative increase of the members of the so- 
cieties, and that of the itinerant preachers, during the 
last thirty-nine years : 



Years. 


Preachers. 


Members. 


1770 


120 


29,406 


1780 


171 


44,830 


1790 


291 


71,568 


1799 


400 


107,752 



N. B. 159,500 of these members are in the United 
States of America; the rest in Great-Britain, and other 
parts of the British dominions. Note also, that the itin- 
erant preachers in the United States of America are 
not numbered. These, I presume, will amount at least 
to 600. What hath God wrought ! 

In the year 1810, there was an increase in the socie- 
ties in Great- Britain and Ireland, and also in America, 
of near 20,000 in the whole. 

Having finished the brief chronological sketch of the 
history of the Methodists, I think it may be proper, as it 
will be pleasant, gjjd profitable to many of my readers. 



9% A TPOJJS ANII COMPLETE 

to have some characteristic, as well as historical ac* 
counts of preachers, who, having finished their course, 
are gone to receive that crown of righteousness which 
fadeth not away. 

I have already given a short character, as well as 
history of Mr. John Wesley. I shall now give 

A Short Account of Mr, Charles Wesley. 

He was born the 13th of December, in the year 1708, 
being about five years younger than his brother John, 
and sixteen younger than Samuel. He was born seve- 
ral weeks before the proper time, and appeared rather 
dead than alive, 

He received the first rudiments of his learning at home, 
from his mother, as all her other children did. 

In 1716 he was sent to Westminster School, and pla- 
ced under the care of his brother, who was usher there. 
Samuel was a high-churchman, and instilled the same 
principles into Charles. 

During his stay at school, a gentleman of large for- 
tune in Ireland wrote to his father, and asked if he had 
a son named Charles, and said, if he had he would make 
him his heir. And for several years Charles's education 
was regularly paid for by a gentleman in London, doubt- 
less by order of this Irish Mr. Wesley. One year a 
stranger called to see him, probably this gentleman 
himself, talked largely with him, and asked him if he 
was willing to go to Ireland.— -Charles wrote to his fath- 
er, who left him to his own choice. He chose to stay 
in England. The gentleman then found and adopted 
another Charles Wesley. From this root sprang the 
present family, who, by some alteration, are denomina- 
ted W— 11— si— s. 

In 1721, Charles was admitted a scholar at St. Pe- 
ter's College, Westminster. In 1 726, he was elected 
to Christ's Church, Oxford, at the same time that his 
brother John was Fellow of Lincoln College. " My 
first year at College." said he, " I lost in diversions ; 
the next I set myself to study. Diligence led me into 
serious thinking : I went to the weekly sacrament, and 
persuaded two or three young students to accompany 



POKTHAITURE OF METHODISM. &3 

iiie, and observe the method of study prescribed by the 
university. This gained me the harmless name of 
Methodist." Does it not appear from these words of his, 
that the term Methodist really originated in their rigid 
adherence to this mciliod of study? It was easy and nat- 
ural to give the termination id to method, and so to de- 
nominate an observer of method, Methodist. Meantime 
the natural association of ideas would bring to remem- 
brance, at least in those readers of Roman history, 
whose memories were tenacious and quick, that des- 
cription of physicians who were called Methodists. 

It was in the year 1 728, and in the twentieth year of 
his age, that he began to apply more closely to study, 
and to be more serious and circumspect in his general 
deportment. He became zealous for God, and in his en- 
deavours to do good for men, both to their bodies and 
souls. 

He proceeded to be Master of Arts in the usual course, 
and thought of nothing but of spending all his days at 
Oxford, as a tutor in the university. Entering into ho- 
ly orders he exceedingly dreaded. But in 1735, his 
brother John had such influence over him, as to prevail 
upon him to receive ordination, and to accompany him 
to Georgia, in North America. Afterwards, he was 
chiefly employed in travelling with his brother through 
different parts of Great-Britain and Ireland ; and in 
preaching, and assisting to form and instruct the several 
Methodist societies. 

His preaching, especially in his younger days, was 
frequently attended with extraordinary power, and ma- 
ny were convinced of sin, and brought truly to repent, 
and savingly to believe. He married Miss Sarah Gwynne, 
a person of respectable family connexions, i:i the county 
of Brecon, in South Wales; and after this, lie chiefly 
divided his time between Bristol and London, where 
he was very useful in the conversion and spiritual pro- 
fit of many souls. As a preacher, he was mighty in the 
scriptures, and possessed a remarkable talent of uttering 
the most striking truths with simplicity, brevity, and 
energy. As a poet, he was most excellent. He wrote 
the chief part of the hymns that are in our large hymn- 
book, and in general use in cur congregations, and many 



9h A TRVE AND COMPLETE 

volumes of sacred poetry besides. He enjoyed but a 
poor state of health during most of his life. He brought 
this on by too much study and abstinence at Oxford. In 
his last sickness he was reduced to extreme weakness. 
But he was filled with humility and resignation. He 
had no transports of joy, but a good ho/)e and unshaken 
confidence in Christ, which ker»t his mind in perfect 
peace. He died, March 29,1788, aged seventy-nine 
years and three months. 

When near death, and when scarcely able to articu- 
late his words, his poetic spirit made its last effort in 
the following lines, which Mrs. Wesley wrote as he 
dictated : 

" In age and feebleness extreme, 
Who shall a sinful worm redeem ? 
Jesus, my only hope thou art, 
Strength of my failing flesh and heart i 
O could I catch a smile from thee, 
And drop into eternity." 

The Character of the Rev. Mr. Fletcher 

Has been given by Mr. Wesley, in a book written soon 
after his death. Afterwards, Mr. Gilpin wrote some 
notes on his character. And lately, Mr. Benson has 
compiled a life of him from all that had been published 
before, with much additional matter. He was, indeed, 
a most extraordinary man ; a Christian like him the 
world has seldom seen ; and a preacher, and especially 
a writer, whose transcendent excellencies my pen can- 
not fully describe. He was born at Nyon, in Switzer- 
land, September 12, 1729, of an ancient and honoura- 
ble family. He was ordained for the Christian ministry 
in 1757 ; was made vicar of Madely, in Shropshire, in 
the year 1 760 ; and died there, August 1 4, 1 785, where 
his name will be had in lasting remembrance. 

At the conclusion of his account of this very eminent 
man, Mr, Wesley says, " I was intimately acquainted 
with him for thirty years. I conversed with him morn- 
ing, noon, and night, without the least reserve, during 
a journey of many hundred miles : and in all that time 
I never heard him speak an improper word, or saw him 






PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 95 

do an improper action. Within fourscore years I have 
known many excellent men, holy in heart and life ; 
but one equal to him I have not known. One so uni- 
formly devoted to God, so unblameable a man in every 
respect I have not found either in Europe or America* 
Nor do I expect to find such another on this side of 
eternity." 

His death was suitable to his life. The Rev. Mr. 
Gilpin, vicar of Wrockwardine, a few miles from Made- 
ley, gives some very interesting particulars respecting 
his dissolution, in the biographical notes which he has 
added to Mr. Fletcher's " Portrait of St. Paul."— 
" Equally prepared for every event, he met his last 
great trial with all that composure and steadiness which 
had invariably distinguished him upon every former 
occasion of suffering. He entered the valley of the sha- 
dow of death as one who feared no evil. He consider- 
ed it as the high road to that incorruptible inheritance 
which is reserved for the saints : and looking forward 
with a hope full of immortality , he saw beyond its limit- 
ed gloom, those everlasting hills of delight and glory, 
to which his soul aspired." 

" A few days before his dissolution, he appeared to 
have reached that desirable point, where the last raptu- 
rous discoveries are made to the souls of dying saints. 
Roused, as it were, with the shouts of angels, and kin- 
dled into yapture with visions of glory, he broke into a 
song of holy triumph, which began and ended with the 
praises of God's unfathomable love. He laboured to de- 
clare the secret manifestations he enjoyed, but his sen* 
sations were too powerful for utterance; and after look- 
ing inexpressible things, he contented himself with 
calling upon all around him, to celebrate and shout out 
that adorable love, which can never be fully compre- 
• hended, or adequately expressed. 

" This triumphant frame of mind was not a transient 
feeling, but a state that he continued to enjoy, with 
little or no discernible intermission to the moment of 
his death. While he possessed the power of speech, he 
spake as one whose lips had been touched with a live 
coal from tlie altar ; and when deprived of that power, 
bis countenance discovered that he was sweetly engag- 
ed in the contemplation of eternal things. 



98 A TIIUE AND COMPLETE 

" On the day of his departure, as I was preparing to 
attend my own church, which was at the distance oi 
nine miles from Madeley, I received a hasty message 
from Mrs. Fletcher, requesting my attendance at the vi- 
carage. I instantly followed the messenger, and found 
Mr. Fletcher with every symptom of approaching dis- 
solution upon him. I had ever looked up to this man 
of God with an extraordinary degree of affection and 
reverence ; and on this afflicting occasion, my heart 
was uncommonly afflicted and depressed. It was now 
in vain to recollect that public duty required my pre- 
sence in another place: unfit for every duty, except 
that of watching the bed of death, I found it impossible 
to withdraw myself from the solemn scene to which I 
had been summoned. I had received from this evan- 
gelical teacher, in days that were past, many excellent 
precepts with respect to holy living ; and now I desired 
to receive from him the last important lesson with res- 
pect to holy dying. And truly this concluding lesson 
was of inestimable worth ; since so much patience and 
resignation, so much peace and composure, were scarce- 
ly ever discovered in the same circumstances before.*-^ 
Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end 
be like his. 

^ While their pastor was breathing out his soul into 
the hands of afaitJtful Creator, his people were offering 
up their joint supplications on his behalf in the house 
of God. Little, however, was seen among them on this 
trj r ing occasion, but affliction and tears. Indeed it was 
a day much to be remembered, for the many affecting 
testimonies which appeared on every side. The whole 
village wore an air of consternation and sadness : and 
not one joyful song was heard among all its inhabitants. 
Hasty messengers were passing to and fro, with anxious 
inquiries and confused reports. And the members of 
every family sat together in silence that day, awaiting 
with trembling expectation the issue of every hour. 

6C After the conclusion of the evening service, seve- 
ral of the poor, who came from distant parts, and who 
were usually entertained under Mr. Fletcher's roof, still 
lingered about the house, and seemed unable to bear 
themselves away from the place, without a sighf of 



P0RTRA1TVRJB OF METHODISM.' 97 

their expiring pastor. Secretly informed of their de- 
sire, I obtained for them the permission they wished. 
And the door of the chamber being set open, immediate- 
\y before which Mr. Fletcher was sitting upright in his 
bed, with the curtains undrawn, unaltered in his usual 
venerable appearance ; they slowly moved, % one by one, 
along the gallery, severally pausing as they passed by 
the door, and casting in a look of mingled supplication 
and anguish. It was an affecting sight to behold these 
unfeigned mourners successively presenting themselves 
before the bed of their dying benefactor, with an inex- 
pressible eagerness in their looks ; and then dragging 
themselves away from his presence, with a distressing 
consciousness thai they should see his face no more, 

" And now the hour speedily approached that was to 
put a solemn termination to our hopes and fears. His 
weakness very perceptibly increased, but his counte- 
nance continued unaltered to the last. If there was 
any visible change in his feelings he appeared to be 
more at ease, and more sweetly composed, as the mo- 
ment of his dismission drew near. Our eyes were ri- 
veted upon him in awful expectation. But whatever 
we had felt before, no murmuring thought was suffered, 
at this interesting period, to darken the glories of so 
illustrious a scene. All was silence — when the last an- 
gelic messenger suddenly arrived, and performed his 
important commission, with so much stillness and se- 
crecy, that it was impossible to determine the exact 
moment of its completion. Mrs. Fletcher Avas kneel- 
ing by the side of her departing husband ; one who at- 
tended him with uncommon assiduity during the last 
stages of his disorder, sat at his head ; while I sorrow- 
fully waited near his feet. Uncertain whether ©r not 
he was totally separated from us, we pressed nearer, and 
hung over his bed in the attitude of listening attention : 
his lips ceased to move, and his head was gently sink- 
ing on his bosom — we stretched out our hands ; but 
Jiis warfare was accomplished, and the happy spirit 
had taken its everlasting flight." 

In the same biographical notes, Mr. Gilpin has far 
voured the world with some very striking characteris- 
tic traits of Mr. Fletcher. He informs us, that he 



98 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

passed the earlier part of his life at Nyon, where he 
soon discovered an elevated turn of mind, accompanied 
with an unusual degree of vivacity. After having 
made a good proficiency in school learning, he was 
sent to Geneva, where he was distinguished equally by 
his superior abilities and his uncommon application.— 
The two first prizes for which he stood candidate, he 
carried away from a number of competitors, several of 
whom were nearly related to the professors: and on 
these occasions he was complimented by his superiors 
in a very flattering manner. During his residence at 
Geneva, he allowed himself but little time, either for 
recreation, refreshment, or rest.-— Here he laid the 
foundation of that extensive and accurate knowledge, 
for which he was afterwards distinguished, both in phi- 
losophical and theological researches. After quitting 
Geneva, he was sent by his father to Lenzbourg, a 
small town in the Swiss Cantons, where he not only 
acquired the German language, but diligently prosecu- 
ted his other studies, for which he ever discovered a 
passionate attachment. On his return from this place, 
he continued some time at home, studying the Hebrew 
language, and perfecting his acquaintance with mathe- 
matical learning. 

His early piety was equally remarkable. From his 
childhood he was impressed with a deep sense of the 
majesty of God, and a constant fear of offending him. 
His acquaintance with the scriptures guarded him, on 
the one hand, from the snares of infidelity; and pre- 
served him on the other, from many vices peculiar to 
youth. His conversation was modest* and his whole 
conduct intarked with a degree of rectitude, not usually 
to be found in early life. He manifested an Extraordi- 
nary turn for religious meditation; and those little pro- 
ductions which gained him the greatest applause, at 
this period, were chiefly of a religions tendency. His 
filial obedience, and brotherly affection, were exempla- 
ry ; nor is it remembered, that he ever uttered one un- 
becoming expression in either of those characters — 
And he was a constant reprover of sin. 

But notwithstanding all these external appearances 
of piety, Mr. Fletcher remained foy many years in ig~ 



PORTRAITURE 01* METHODISM. 99 

aorance respecting the nature of scriptural Christianity, 
He was naturally of a high and ambitious turn of mind, 
and counted much upon the dignity of human nature ; 
and being admired by his friends, it is not to be won- 
dered at that he should cast a look of self-complacency 
upon himself. He was a stranger to that unfeigned 
sorrow for sin, which is the first step towards the king- 
dom of God. He had resided some time in England 
before he became properly acquainted with himself, 
and the nature of true religion. In the twenty-sixth 
year of his age, he was so filled with self-abhorrence, 
as to place himself on a level with the chief of sinners* 
But his sorrow for sin was succeeded by a conscious- 
ness of the favour of God, and he was filled with peace 
and joy in believing. Having found Jesus to be a Sav- 
iour, he determined to follow him as a guide. From- 
this period he became truly exemplary for Christian 
piety. He appeared to enjoy uninterrupted fellowship 
with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Eve- 
ry day was with him a day of solemn self-dedication, 
and every hour an hour oi praise and prayer. 

Mr. Fletcher seemed to be familiar with things not 
seen, Heb. xi. 1. He walked as seeing him who is in- 
visible, and sat in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. To 
those who were much conversant with him, he appeared 
almost as an inhabitant of a better world : the common 
lights of Christians were eclisped before him ; and even 
his religious friends, could never stand in his presence, 
without being overwhelmed with a consciousness of 
their own inferiority. While they saw him rising, as it 
were, on the wings of an eagle, they were humbled at 
their inability to pursue his flight ; and his frequent 
expressions of fervent love and gratitude to God, made 
them ashamed of their own lukewarmness and ingrati- 
tude. When he went out through the city, or took his 
seat in the company of the righteous, he was saluted 
with unusual reverence, as an angel of God. The 
young men saw him and Md themselves ; and the aged 
arose and stood up* Even those who were honoured as 
princes among the people of God, refrained talking, and 
laid their hand upon their mouth. When the ear heard 
him j then it blessed him ; and when the eye saw him, it 



100 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

gave witness to him. Sitting in the house, or walfcfag- 
by the way ; in retirement, or in his public labours, he 
was uniformly actuated by the same spirit* In all he 
said and did, in all the circumstances of life, it appear; 
ed that his heart and his treasure were in heaven* 



HIS EPITAPH. 

He?e lies the Body of 

The Rev. JOHN WILLIAM de la FLECHERE, 

Vicar of Madeley, 

Who was born at Nyon, in Switzerland, 

September the 12th, 1729, 

And finished his Course, August the 14th^ 1785^, 

In this Village; 

Where his unexampled Labours 

Will long be remembered. 

He exercised his Ministry for the space tif 

Twenty-five Years, 

In this Parish, 

With uncommon Zeal and Ability. 

Many believed his Report, and became 

His Joy and Crown of Rejoicing; 

While others constrained him to take up 

The Lamentation of the Prophet, 

" All the day long have I stretched out my Hands 

Unto a disobedient and gainsaying People : 

Yet surely my Judgment is with the Lord 3 

And my Work with my God." 

" He being dead yet speaketh." 

The writer of this publication, spent two years at 
and about Madeley, commencing about twelve years 
after his death ; and he found that his name was still 
as ointment poured forth. And as every thing is inte- 
resting that respects Mr. Fletcher, I shall be excused 
for inserting a few lines more about him, especially as 
what I shall write will be additional to all that has 
been published before. I had my information from the 
very best authorities* 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 101 

Some of the Methodists at Coalbrook-dale told me, 
that their chapel was enlarged a little before Mr. 
Fletcher's death. The morning they began to get 
the stones for the enlargement, he came by the quarry 
just as they were beginning to work. He would have 
the honour of doing something in this business of en- 
larging the house of prayer. " But first," said he, " let 
us pray." So they all kneeled down upon the rock ; 
Mr. Fletcher prayed like himself; and then he assist- 
ed them in getting stones, till more urgent concerns 
called him to depart. 

I was also very credibly informed, at Broseley, about 
three miles from Madeley that about the time Mr. 
Fletcher was writing his Checks to Antinomianisnv 
the Baptist minister of that town declared in the pulpit 
he would go over to Madeley, to this great Arminian* 
and confound him by argument. He went accordingly 
to Mr. Fletcher's house, and told him his errand. — « 
Mr. Fletcher did not decline the combat, but only pro- 
posed they should first have a little prayer. After pray- 
er the argumentation commenced and proceeded; and 
Mr. Fletcher not only maintained his ground, but made 
a considerable impression on his heroic assailant— 
What with his matchless piety, his loving and amiable 
spirit and temper, and the strength and clearness of his 
arguments, he made a breach in the wall of this Calvi* 
nian fortress. The minister returned home full of ad- 
miration, and the praises of Mr. Fletcher ; and was ne 
ver afterwards able so to preach as to satisfy his Cal- 
vinistic auditors, that he remained orthodox. 

The following anecdote I had from the best authority, 
and knew the surviving branches of the family. One 

Sunday, after the morning service, Mr. , a gentle 

man farmer, insulted Mr. Fletcher very grossly, as he 
came out of the church, evincing great enmity against 
a faithful ministry and genuine piety. Before Mr 
Fletcher concluded his sermon in the afternoon, he told 
the congregation, he had a powerful impression upon 
his mind, that before the next Sabbath, the Lord would 
display a signal mark of his displeasure against the ene- 
mies of his cause and truth. The week drew almost to 
a conclusion, -and nothing remarkable happened. But 

i 2 



103 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

on the Saturday evening, Mr. returning from the 

market, in a state he should not have been in, fell from 
his horse, and instantly expired upon the spot. This 
anecdote was kept back from publication out of tender- 
ness to the family. But it does not appear to me that 
there is any sufficient reason for suppressing for ever y 
such a notable instance of God's displeasure against the 
opposers of his truth, and of Mr. Fletcher's prophetic 
spirit. 

Since Mr. Fletcher's death, that most excellent 
woman his widow, has been astonishingly useful in car- 
rying on the good work so happily begun in his days. I 
formed a very high idea of her piety. Her religion is 
human nature cured and elevated. She has strong 
sense, and an easy, natural, and almost irresistible me- 
thod of drawing up the minds of all about her to heaven 
and heavenly things. She has for many years been the 
great counsellor and director of the parish of Made-* 
Jey; and that frequently as well in temporals as in 
spirituals. In short ever since Mr. Fletcher's death, 
she has been little less than the vicar of the parish.—* 
She has never quitted the vicarage house, though she 
pays a low annual rent for it; and the vicar will, I be- 
lieve, employ or dismiss any curate at her request. 

The Bev. Mr. Grimshaw, 

Is a name well know to the religious world. This emi- 
nently good and useful man, was a clergyman of the 
Church of England. He was born at Brindle, near 
Preston, in Lancashire, in September, 1 708 ; was ol?- 
dainedin 1731, but for some time afterwards was vain 
and trilling, the reverse of all serious godliness. At 
this time he was minister of Todruorden, nine miles 
north of Rochdale. However, in two or three years he 
became more thoughtful ; and in 1 742, he became a 
genuine Christian, a zealous preacher of the gospel. 

In May, that same year, he became minister of H$- 
worth, in the parish of Bradford, in Yorkshire. Ha- 
worth is one of those obscure places, which like those 
fishing towns on the coast of the Sea of Galilee, where 
our Savionr bestowed so much of his time and la?boifrsj 



PORTRAITURE 0¥ METHODISM. 103 

owes most of its celebrity to the preaching of the go«„ 
pel. Its name would scarcely have been known, had it 
not been connected with the name of the celebrated Grim* 
shaw. The bleak and barren state of the adjacent coun- 
try, was no improper emblem of the state of the inhabi- 
tants, who, when he went first among them, were in 
general very ignorant, careless, and wicked, having lit- 
tle more sense of religion than their cattle, and were 
wild and uncultivated like the rocks and hills which 
surrounded them. But by the blessing of God upon his 
zealous and abundant labours, very many were awaken- 
ed out of their sinful sleep, were brought to fear God, to 
live godly, righteous, and sober lives, and were rilled 
with peace and joy in believing. His lively, striking,, 
and impressive method of preaching, was soon much 
talked of, and attracted great numbers to hear him from 
every part of the surrounding country, and often from a 
great distance. Nor was this merely during the period 
of novelty but continued through more than twenty 
successive years. 

As the poor make their want of better clothes an ex- 
cuse for not coming to divine service in the day-time, 
he established, chiefly for their sakes, a sermon on Sun- 
day evenings, after preaching forenoon and afternoon. 
And he began a method in 1 743, which he continued to 
the end of his life, of preaching in each of the four ham- 
lets under his care, three times every month. By this, 
the old and the infirm, who could not attend the church, 
had the truth of God brought to their houses ; and many 
who were so careless _as scarce ever to go to the church, 
were thus allured to hear. 

It was not long, before the holiness of his life, the 
zeal and diligence with which he instructed the people 
of his charge, and the great good which many from the 
neighbouring parishes had obtained by attending his 
ministry, caused him to have many invitations to preach 
at the houses of clivers persons in other parishes. And 
when these petitioners, like the man of Macedonia, cried, 
? Gome over and help us," he believed it to be his duty 
to go. And thus, while he provided abundantly for his 
own flock, he annually preached near three hundred 
times to congregations in other parts, He formed two 



104 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

circuits for himself, which, with some occasional varia- 
tions, he traced every week alternately. One of these, 
he pleasantly termed his idle week ; because during that 
he seldom preached more than twelve or fourteen times. 
In his working week, he often preached twenty-four and 
sometimes thirty times. An itinerant clergyman was 
a strange thing: and Mr. Grimshaw was perhaps the 
first minister in Yorkshire, whose zeal prompted him to 
preach in other parishes, without obtaining consent 
from the ministers belonging to them. 

From the year 1 745, he maintained a close union 
with the Methodists, and acted as Mr. Wesley's assist- 
ant in some parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire. The 
parts then formed what was called the Haworth Circuity 
of which Mr. Grimshaw was considered as being the 
perpetual superintendent. He visited the classes quar- 
terly, and renewed their tickets ; attended quarterly 
meetings, and frequently preached upon those occa- 
sions; and often presided at love-feasts in the Metho- 
dist societies. He attended the conference, when held 
at Leeds, and always preached. At that time, the 
conference was held at London, Bristol, and Leeds, al- 
ternately, and at no other place. His employments 
would not allow him time to go to either of the other 
places : but though he was never there, he had a great 
name, and many friends in London. He lived in strict 
friendship with the Methodist preachers ; they lodged 
at his house, and preached in his kitchen ; and he reg- 
ularly published in his church when the preaching 
would be in his house. And he was so far from envy- 
ing the talents, popularity, or success of the preachers* 
that he greatly rejoiced in their labours. He heard 
even the weakest of them with great and humble at- 
tention, and many of them he preferred in honour to 
himself. One time, after William Shent had been 
preaching in his kitchen, he fell down before him, say- 
ing, " I am not worthy to stand in your presence." — - 
And at another time, when Benjamin Beanland had 
been preaching in the same place, he embraced him, 
and said, " The Lord bless thee, Ben, this is worth a 
hundred of my sermons." 

Mr. Grimshaw's was a very extensive circuit, and 
though they travelled much on horseback, it required 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISE, 105 

three or four preachers, besides him, to supply it.-^ 
But he regularly supplied his own church on the Sun- 
days. His house and church were ever open to Mr. 
Whitefield, or any other gospel minister, who might oc- 
casionally visit those parts ; but in respect to disci- 
pline, and doctrines in general, he held the same sen- 
timents as Mr. Wesley. 

The Lord gave great success to his labours. It is 
true, his manner of life excited much envy, jealousy, 
and displeasure in many of his clerical brethren $ but 
none of these things moved him, nor did he count his 
character, or even his life, dear unto himself; but went 
on, testifying the gospel of the grace of God. Nor did 
he meet with any serious and determined marks of 
disapprobation from his superiors in the church. But 
he was opposed by some who hated to be reformed. — 
At Colne, a riotous mob, hired for the purpose, and 
headed by the parson, disturbed him while preaching. 

Mr. W bite's proclamation for enlisting men into the 
mob, raised against the Methodist, ran as follows : 

" Notice is hereby given, That if any man be mind- 
ful to enlist into his Majesty's service, under the com- 
mand of the Reverend Mr. George White, Commander 
in Chief, and John Bannister, Lieutenant General of 
his Majesty's forces, for the defence of the Church of 
England, and the support of the manufactory in and 
about Colne, both which are now in danger, let him re- 
pair to the drum-head, at the Cross, where each man 
shall have a pint of ale for advance, and other proper 
encouragements. 

This Mr. White was educated at Doway, in France, 
for orders in the Church of Rome ; but upon his reeant- 
( ation, was noticed by Archbishop Potter, and by him re- 
commended to the Vicar of Whalley, who appointed 
him minister of Colne, He was not devoid of either 
parts or literature, but childishly ignorant of common 
life, and shamefully inattentive to his duty, which he 
frequently abandoned for weeks together to such acci* 
dental assistance as the parish could procure. On one 
| occasion he is said to have read the funeral service 
more than twenty times in a single night, over the dead 
bodies which had been interred in his absence. With 



106 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

these glaring imperfections in his own character, he 
sought to distinguish himself by a riotous opposition to 
the Methodists. But, in his last illness, it is said he 
sent for Mr. Grimshaw to get the assistance of his in- 
structions and prayers, being now fully convinced of 
the impropriety of his former conduct. 

This minister also preached and published a sermon 
against Mr. Grimshaw and the Methodists, which gave 
occasion to the only publication Mr. Grimshaw ever 
favoured the world with. It was printed in 1749, and 
entitled, "An Answer to a Sermon published against 
the Methodists, by the Rev. Mr. George White, M. A. 
Minister of Colne and Marsden, in Lancashire. By 
the Rev. William Grimshaw, Minister of Haworth, 
Yorkshire." 

Mr. Miles has done a real service to the world by re- 
publishing this pamphlet, in connexion with his valua- 
ble life of Mr. Grimshaw. The pamphlet consists of 
eighty pages, twelves, and is a very good defence of 
Methodism, particularly as circumstances then stood. 
But it has nearly been lost to the world ; for it was with 
difficulty, after a considerable search, that a copy of it 
was procured. 

When Mr. Wesley or Mr. Whitefield visited Haworth, 
the custom was, after the prayers had been read in the 
church, to go through a window upon a scaffold erected 
for the purpose in the church-yard, and after preaching 
to congregations consisting of thousands, they returned 
into the church, and administered the Lord's Supper 
to great numbers. This often took up a good while ; 
and in the meantime, a preacher continued preaching 
©ut of doors. These were times of refreshing from the 
presence of the Lord, and many drew water with joy 
out of the wells of salvation. 

It was a constant custom of Mr. Grimshaw, to at- 
tend the feasts and wakes, kept in the neighbouring 
villages, acconr inied by two or three local preachers,, 
whom he invited to assist him. And after these men 
had preached, one after another, he concluded the ser- 
vice by preaching himself. This plan produced the 
most happy effects ; many were hereby kept from fol- 
lowing the multitude to do evil, and from contracting 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 107 

debts, or wounding their consciences, while others got 
real and lasting good to their immortal souls. 

At Haworth there are two feasts every year. It had 
been customary with the inn-keepers, and some other 
inhabitants, to make a subscription for horse-races at 
the latter feast. These were of the lowest description, 
and frequented by the lowest of the people. They ex- 
hibited a scene of vulgar rioting and drunkenness, 
chambering and wantonness, wild uproar and confusion. 
Mr. Grimshaw had frequently attempted, but in vain, 
to put a stop to this mischievous custom. His remon- 
strances were but little regarded, and probably any oth- 
er man would have been abused, in making the attempt 
to stop an established practice, so agreeable to the taste 
of vulgar depravity . They so revered his character,, 
as to hear his expostulation with a measure of patience, 
but still persisted in what so much grieved him. But 
he gave himself unto prayer for some time before the 
feast, entreating God to put a stop to this eviL When 
the race time came the people assembled as usual, but 
were soon dispersed. Even before the race could be- 
gin, dark cloud3 covered the sky, which soon poured 
forth such excessive rains, that the people could not re- 
main upon the ground ; and it continued to rain exces- 
sively during the three days appointed for the races. 
This event, though it took place many years since, is 
still remembered and spoken of at Haworth. It is a com- 
mon saying among the people, that u Old Grimshaw 
put a stop to the races by his prayers." It proved an 
effectual stop : for there have been no races in that 
neighbourhood from that time to this day. 

What was brought him for dues, he took without be- 
ing rigorous. He used to tell the people, " I will not 
deserve your curses when I am dead, for what 1 have 
received for my poor labours among you. I want no 
more of you, than your souh for my God, and a bare 
maintenance for myself." 

His whole life proved this declaration to be true. He 
required nothing but the plainest food and raiment ; 
and he would frequently say, that these were more than 
he deserved. He hated wastefulness, and was strictly 
frugal : and would sometimes say, c; How can those 



10S A TRITE AND COMPLETE 

persons answer before God, for the food which they de- 
ny to poor Christians, and throw away upon their 
dogs r 

It was his frequent and almost constant custom to go 
•ut of the church while the psalm before the sermon was 
singing, to see if he could find any idling in the church- 
yard, the street, or in the public houses. And many 
of those whom he found he would drive into the church 
before him. A person passing by a public-house one 
Sunday forenoon, was surprised to see several persons 
making their escape, some jumping out at the lower 
windows and others over a wall. He was alarmed, 
thinking a fire had broke out in the house ; but upon 
inquiring, found all this commotion was caused by the 
discovery that the Parson was coming. They were as 
much afraid of him as of a justice of the peace. 

He endeavoured to suppress that custom, so preva- 
lent in country places, of walking in the fields on the 
Lord's day, between the services and in the evening. 
He spoke against it in the pulpit; and visited the usual 
haunts in order to detect and reprove those who were 
guilty. At some distance from Haworth there was a 
place to which many young people frequently resorted. 
One evening he disguised himself, so that they did not 
know him till he was so near them as to know who they 
were ; he then spoke, charging them not to move. He 
took down all their names with his pencil, and ordered 
them to attend him at his house, on a day, and at an 
hour which he named. And they all went as punctu- 
ally as if they had been served with a judge's warrant. 
He led them into a private room, formed them into a 
circle, commanded them to kneel down, he kneeled 
down in the midst of them, and prayed for them ve- 
ry earnestly, and at some length. He closed the inter- 
view by an affecting lecture. This discipline never 
needed to be repeated; for it is said the place has never 
been resorted to on a Sunday evening from that time to 
this. 

When at home, he had a meeting for prayer and 
exhortation every morning, in the summer at five, and 
in the winter at six o'clock. These meetings were ear- 
ly and short, that the people might not be kept from 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 109 

the duties of their calling, Avhether in the field or in the 
house. He thought that to begin the day with religious 
exercises, would sweeten labour, prepare for trials, and 
fortify against temptations. His own diligence was ve- 
ry great. The exertions of the most industrious man 
in trade, could not exceed his in endeavouring to do 
good to men, and bring glory to his Maker. In every 
action of common life, and in his most common and fa- 
miliar conversation, a savour of piety was still to be 
discovered. And his mind was prompt and fertile, in 
improving the little incidents of daily occurrence, to 
convey and impress spiritual and profitable lessons, — 
Herein he resembled our Saviour, who instructed his 
disciples and his other hearers, by observations on birds 
and flowers, to which he pointed them. In the pulpit 
he depicted sin in such strong and frightful colours, aa 
to make sinners tremble. 

His constitution was vigorous, his health good, his 
spirits lively, and his zeal truly fervent. He was rather 
low in stature ; broad-set and strong ; and a good deal 
marked by the small pox. He could endure much la- 
bour and fatigue ; and he often showed less mercy to 
his body, than a merciful man would do to his beast, 
traversing the bleak neighbouring mountains in all 
weathers. Thus did the love of Christ constrain him to 
spend and be spent in the best and most important of 
all employments. 

The fear of the Lord raised Mr. Grimshaw above that 
fear of man which bringeth a snare. He exhorted and 
rebuked with ail authority, as well as with long-suffering 
and gentleness. He was bold and faithful in his private 
reproofs and admonitions as well as in his public min- 
istrations. And he had not only an easy method of do- 
ing this, but sometimes a very peculiar one. 

A man, whose benevolence he had some suspicion of, 
he made application to, near bed-time, disguised so as to 
be taken for a poor man, and solicited the favour of a 
lodging for the night. He hereby proved the man to be 
-what he suspected. Instead of granting the supposed 
poor man his petition, he loaded him with abuse. 

In his-discourses,he generally made use of very plain 

K 



110 A TRITE AND COMPLETE 

language, and sometimes language that was homely and 
familiar. I will give a few specimens. 

Upon one occasion he exhorted the people to be 
thankful for the many mercies they had received at the 
hand of the Lord, saying, " Some of you can sit down 
to your table, and eat and drink, and never once think 
of God, so as either to ask a blessing upon your food, or 
to return thanks. You are worse than the very swine ; 
for the pigs will grunt over their victuals ; but you wilt 
say nothing." And when he was praying, after thus 
speaking to the congregation, he said, " Lord, dismiss 
us with thy blessing : take all these people under thy 
care, bring them in safety to their own houses, and give 
them their suppers when they get home ; but let them 
not eat a morsel till they have said grace : then let them 
eat and be satisfied, and return thanks to thee when they 
have done. Let them then kneel down and say their 
prayers before they go to bed : let them do this for once, 
at any rate, and then thou wilt preserve them till the 
morning." Once when preaching from the 48th Psalm, 
verse the 14th, and telling his hearers, among other 
things, how the Lord would bless them who had him 
for their God, he said, " They who have this God for 
theirs, shall never want a pound of butter, or a pint of 
blue milk, so long as they live." 

In giving some advice to Mr. Paul Greenwood, and 
Mr. Thomas Mitchell, two young preachers, he said, — 
If you are sent of God to preach the gospel, all hell will 
be up in arms against you. Prepare for the battle, and 
stand fast in the good ways of God. You must not ex- 
pect to gain much of this world's goods by preaching 
the gospel. What you get must come through the de- 
vil's teeth ; and he will hold it as fast as he can. I count 
every covetous man to be one of the devil's teeth ; and 
he will let nothing go for God and his cause, but what is 
forced from him." As he was favoured with a liberal 
education, at the grammar-schools of Blackburn and 
Heskin, and afterwards at Christ's College, in Cam- 
bridge, it could not be from want of learning that he 
used occasionally this plain, familiar style, or as it is 
sometimes termed, market language. He knew the ig- 
norance of the people, and studied to speak to them as 
they would best understand his meaning. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. Ill 

Unwearied laboriousness; deep, yet cheerful piety; 
a plain, familiar style, which he made use of in order to 
be better understood by an auditory, in general unlearn- 
ed and ignorant; accompanied by almost unequalled 
usefulness ; form the chief features of his character. 

As a polemic writer, Mr. Fletcher was superior to 
Mr. GrimshaWc But in extensive and abundant useful- 
ness, as a preacher, Mr. Grimshaw was greatly superior 
to Mr. Fletcher. And yet, Mr. Fletcher was not only 
an able, but a very useful preacher; and God crowned 
his labours with great success. 

In a spiritual, as well as natural sense, there are soils 
comparatively barren as well as fruitful. And I think 
it but just to observe, that Mr. Grimshaw laboured in 
the more fruitful, and Mr. Fletcher in the more barren 
field. 

He was a lover of hospitality, and in the summer 
season had many visitants. Sometimes the house was 
full. He would give beds to as many as he could, and 
then, unknown to his guests, would sleep in the hay-loft 
himself. Early one morning, one of these occasional 
lodgers, was not a little surprized to find Mr. Grimshaw 
cleaning the boots of his friends, whom he supposed 
were still asleep. 

He was a lover of mankind, and a follower of him 
whose tender mercies are over all his works, and who is 
good to the thankful, and to the unthankful. He ten- 
derly sympathised with the poor and afflicted. 

He never sought either patronage or preferment. He 
was of a catholic and candid spirit. If good was done, 
he cared not who might be the instrument. His bowels 
yearned over careless sinners. He beheld them, yea. 
even the most profligate, with grief and compassion. 
He embraced every favorable opportunity of sneaking 
a useful and seasonable word to any person he might 
fall in with on the road. And in some, the good seed, 
though sown on the highway, took root and brought forth 
good fruit. 

It was his custom to go from house to house, warning, 
teaching, and exhorting the people respecting their 
sours salvation, He was very punctual in fulfilling hi? 



112 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

appointments. He was sure to be at the place where 
he was expected ; and exactly at the time. 

His usual hour of rising was at four o'clock in sum- 
mer, and five in winter. In his family in the morning, 
before prayer, he read the psalms and lessons appointed 
for the day. In summer he went to bed about ten 
o'clock, and in winter about eleven. 

Few men ever thought or spoke more meanly of 
themselves than he did. Nor could he bear to hear 
athers speak well of him. He was a hearty friend to 
the established church, and firmly attached to the con- 
stitution and government of his country. He feared 
God, and honoured the king. 

Not knowing who might be his successor at Hawortft 
church, and anxious that the gospel he preached might 
still be preached there, in 1758 he built a chapel at his 
own expense. The cause of religion sunk very low 
some years after he died. But the chapel is now galle- 
ried and well attended, and we have a good society and 
congregation there. 

In the spring of 1 763, Haworth was visited by a ma- 
lignant putrid fever, of which many persons died. Be- 
fore he was taken ill, he had a pre-sentiment that one 
of his family would fall a victim to the prevailing afflic- 
tion. In visiting the sick he caught the infection : and 
from the first attack of the fever, expected and welcom- 
ed the approach of death. He was greatly supported 
in his affliction, and his consolations abounded. When 
Mr. Venn asked about the state of his mind, he cheer- 
fully replied, " As happy as I can be on earth, and as 
sure of glory as if I was in it." At another time he 
said to his housekeeper, "Q Mary ! I have suffered the 
last night what the blessed martyrs did ; my flesh has 
been as it were roasting before a hot fire. But I have 
nothing to do but to step out of my bed into heaven, 
and I have one foot upon the threshold already." His 
old friend, Mr, Jeremiah Robertshaw, an itinerant 
preacher, calling to see him in his illness, Mr. Grimshaw 
took hold of his hand at parting and said, " The Lord 
bless you, Jerry : I will pray for you as long as I live; 
and if there be such a thing as praying in heaven, I will 
pray for you there also," " Mark the perfect man, and 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 11$ 

behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace. 
Doubtless the reader will add, " Let me die the death 
of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Amen. 

He gave up the ghost, April the 7th, 1 763, in the 55th 
year of his age, and in the 21st from his settlement at 
Haworth. He was buried in the church at Luddenden, 
near Halifax. The funeral was plain ; yet attended 
with circumstances that made it more solemn and af- 
fecting than, perhaps, the pompous funeral of Lord Nel- 
son. Almost the whole neighbourhood followed his 
corpse, for six or seven miles, making the air resound 
with sighs and groans, and bedewing the road with their 
tears. Mr. Venn, then vicar of Huddersfield, preached 
a funeral sermon for him at Luddenden and Haworth, 
and Mr. Romaine preached another at St. Dunstan's in 
the West in London. 

Mr. Grimshaw was twice happily marriedo He was 
a burning and shining light. He was of a cheerful, 
generous, lively turn of mind; very courteous, and open 
as the day in his conversation with the people wherev- 
er he went. He was a natural orator ; spoke with great 
facility; and preached the gospel with great ability 
and approbation. Lastly, he spoke with that authority 
which belongs to the messengers of God. And with 
such success did the Lord crown his labours in his own 
parish, that one year, after having buried eighteen per- 
sons, he said he had good reason to believe that sixteen 
of them were gone to heaven, 

Sundry other clergymen at different times, have as 
sisted Mr. Wesley and his preachers, in carrying on 
the work of God. But the chief part of the ministerial 
instruments engaged in this work, have been laymen, 
though several of them have received ordination. Ma- 
ny of these have been very eminent for piety and Use- 
fulness, and some of them for preaching abilities. I 
shall give a short account of a few, as a specimen of 
the whole body. 

Mr. Wesley had not the most distant idea of being 
assisted by lay-preachers when he began to form socie- 
ties. And when the first of them began to preach, he 
was exceedingly averse to it. Thomas Maxfield was 
the first lay-preacher, and began about the year 1740 
k 2 



114 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

Mr. Wesley being out of London on some important bu- 
siness, had appointed Mr. Maxfield to pray with the 
people during his absence, and to give them such advice, 
as might appear to him needful. But he did not expect 
he would attempt to preach ; nor does it appear that Mr. 
Maxfield had any such intention; but being fervent in 
spirit and mighty in the scriptures, he was led on further 
than he intended, and began to preach. However, this 
supposed usurpation of the sacred office offended some 
of the society, and Mr. Wesley hastened to London to 
stop the evil. When he arrived he manifested great 
dissatisfaction at the innovation. But his mother, who 
was not only a woman of piety,but of great understanding, 
and more especially in the things of God, said to him, 
? John, you know what my sentiments have been; you 
cannot suspect me of favouring any thing of this land ; 
but take care what you do with respect to that young 
man ; for he is as surely called of God to preach as you 
are." This restrained Mr. Wesley from executing the 
resolution he had formed; and finding that good was 
done, he reluctantly permitted the practice to continue. 

Thomas Maxfiem) 

Was a man of piety, and his ministerial labours were* 
remarkably owned of God. Lady Huntington heard 
Mm expound the scriptures, and said to Mr. Wesley in 
a letter, " I never mentioned to you that I had seen 
Maxfield : he is one cf the greatest instances of God's 
peculiar favour that I know; he is raised from the stones 
to sit among the princes of his people. He is my as- 
tonishment. The first time I heard him expound, ex- 
pecting little from him, I sat over against him, and 
thought, what a power of God must be with him t®> 
make me give any attention to him. But before he had 
gone over one fifth part, any one that had seen me, 
would have thought I had been made of wood or sione 9 
so quite immoveable I both felt and looked. His power 
in prayer is quite extraordinary.*— I could either talkojr 
write for an hour about him. 59 

After preaching for some years,, Mr. Maxfield was of 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 115 

dained by an Irish bishop. It is said the bishop ordained 
him out of compassion to Mr. Wesley, that he might not 
work himself to death. Mr. Maxfield was very useful 9 
and was in high esteem, both with Mr. Wesley and the 
people; But in the year 1762, George Bell, and some 
others, gave way to enthusisstical flights and irregular- 
ities, which were disgraceful to religion; and very un- 
happily, Mr. Maxfield was induced to take part with 
them. Mr. Yfesley had acted with great caution and 
tenderness towards these well meaning, but mistaken 
people. But at last, he saw the necessity of adopting 
firm and decisive measures. The result was, that Mr. 
Maxfield left Mr. Wesley, and took away about two 
hundred of the London society. Divers of these were 
among Mr. Wesley's most esteemed friends, and it has 
been thought that this was the heaviest trial which he 
ever had. 

Mr. Maxfield got a commodious chapel near Moor- 
fields. He preached there for many years ; was much 
respected, and very usefuL . For several years before 
his death, he was very friendly with the Methodists* 
and our preachers frequently preached in his Chapel.— 
A paralytic stroke put a speedy end to his life ; but it is 
believed that he exchanged a world of trial for a world 
of rest and felicity. 



John Nelson, 

Very properly ranks among the first Methodist 
preachers. He was a native of Birstal, near Leeds, and 
was born in the year 1707. Very early in life he was 
under serious concern for the salvation of his soul. In 
general he acted according to the light he had, and was 
still wishing, and endeavouring to learn the ways of the 
Lord more perfectly. His business led him to reside 
some years in London. Here he went about seeking 
rest and finding none. He went from one place of wor- 
ship to another, and at last, he had an opportunity of 
hearing Mr. Whitefieki and Mr. Wesley. His mind 
gradually expanded, till he was made wise unto salva^ 
lion. In the memoirs of his life, written by himself, he 
gives an account of his hearing Mr, Wesley the first 



116 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

time, which was out of doors, in Moorfields, He says/ 
" As soon as he got upon his stand, he stroked back his 
hair, and turned his face towards where I stood, and I 
thought fixed his eyes upon me. His countenance 
struck such an awful dread upon me, before I heard him 
speak, that it made my heart beat like the pendulum of 
a clock ; and when he did speak, I thought his whole 
discourse was aimed at me." Soon after this, Mr. Nel- 
son was made a partaker of that peace of God that pas** 
seth all understanding. Among many oppositions and 
difficulties, he continued to cleave to the Lord, and to 
walk in his fear, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, 

But after some time, it was impressed upon his mind 
that he must return to his native place. I shall insert 
his own account of this affair. He says, " About ten 
days before Christmas, I went to St. Paul's, and while 
I was at the communion-table I felt such an awful sense 
of God resting upon me, that my heart was like melting 
wax before him, and all my prayer was, c Thy will be 
done ; thy will be done/ I was so dissolved into tears 
of love, that 1 could scarce take the bread ; and after I 
had received it, it was impressed upon my mind, I must 
go into Yorkshire directly." Accordingly, believing it 
to be the will of God, he packed up his clothes, and set 
out ; he found much of the Lord's presence on the road % 
but had #0 more thoughts of preaching than of eating 
fire. 

Mr. Ingham had preached in the neighbourhood of 
Birstal, being then connected with the Moravians, and 
the doctrine of the new birth had caused much talk in 
those parts. John Nelson's acquaintance asked him 
what he thought of this doctrine. He told them that 
this new faith, as they termed it, was the old faith of 
the gospel ; and he related to them his own experience » 
This was soon noised abroad, and more and more came 
to inquire concerning these strange things : some put 
him upon proving these great truths; and thus he was 
brought unawares, to quote, explain, compare, and en- 
force several parts of the scriptures. This he did at 
first sitting in his house, till the company increased so. 
that the house could not contain them. He then stood 
at the door, which he was commonly obliged to do eve* 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 117 

r-y evening as soon as he came from work. And this 
may give the reader an idea of the way and manner in 
which many of the Methodist preachers have been cal- 
led to the work of preaching the gospel. For some 
time, Mr, Nelson's friends, and his nearest relatives, 
opposed him, and were ashamed of him ; but he was 
steadfast and immovable, and abounded in the work of 
the Lord. His success was very great in and about 
Birstal. Sinners were daily converted. Almost every 
night he went out of town, often four or five miles, af- 
ter he had done his work, which was that of a mason ; 
and commonly returned the same night in all sorts o£ 
weather. 

la a while, Mr. John Wesley paid him a visit on his 
way to Newcastle. He said to Mr. Wesley, " Sir, you 
may make use of Jacob's words, " The children thou 
hast begotten in Egypt before are mine ; for I freely 
deliver them to your care." 

It was about May when Mr. John Wesley came into 
Yorkshire ; and towards Michaelmas, Mr. Charles Wes- 
ley, and Mr. Graves came : and from the time of their 
coming into Yorkshire, to their return to the south, 
which was about a month, some part of which they spent 
at Newcastle, eighty were added to the societies. 

The Christmas following, Mr. Nelson was invited by 
William Shent to go and preach at Leeds. But the 
attempt was considered so hazardous, that he and the 
society about Birstal kept a day of fasting and prayer 
before he went. As he went over the bridge, he met 
two men, who said to him, " If you attempt to preach 
in Leeds, you must not expect to come out again alive^ 
for there is a company of men that swear they will kill 
you." He answered, " they must first ask my Fathers 
leave ; for if he has any work more for me to do, all 
the men in the town cannot kill me till I have done it.* 
He preached to a large congregation, which behaved 
well, and received the word with meekness. 

After this he made an excursion into Lancashire, 
Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire, preaching 
with great success, though accompanied with opposi- 
tion and persecution. Mr. Wesley sent for him up to 
London. But by this time he had nearly worn out hie. 



118 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

clothes, and did not know where the next should come 
from. His wife said, he was not fit to go any where as 
he was. He answered, " I have worn them out in the 
ford's work, and he will not let me want long." And 
two days after, a neighbouring tradesman, that did not 
belong to the society, came to his house, and brought 
him a piece of blue cloth for a coat, and a piece of black 
cloth for a waistcoat and breeches. When he had got 
ready, he set out for London on foot, but one of his 
neighbours was going on horseback, who took his pace, 
and sometimes let him ride. He preached at Notting- 
ham-cross, in the way. After spending a little time in 
London, he set out for Oxford, and after preaching 
there, and at several other places, hc» reached Bath, and 
then Bristol. After a short stay there, he set out for 
Cornwall. One day, after travelling twenty miles, 
without baiting, he and Mr. Downs, who travelled with 
him, came to a village, and inquired for an inc. But 
they were told there was none in the place, nor any on 
the road within twelve Cornish miles. Mr. Nelson 
said, " Come, brother Downs, we must live by faith." 
But they ventured to go to a house, and ask for some- 
thing. The woman of the house said, " We have 
bread, butter, and milk, and good hay for your horse ;" 
for they had one horse between them. When they 
reached St. Ives, Mr. Nelson worked at his business for 
several days. After this he went and preached at St. 
Just, the LandVEnd, and sundry other places. On his 
return from Cornwall he was benighted on the Twelve- 
mile-common, and was wet to the skin ; but by the 
providence of God, he came to the house where he had 
called in going down. He knocked at the door, and 
the woman knew his voice, and said, " The Lord bless 
you ! come in." They pulled off his wet clothes, put 
on dry ones, got him something warm for supper, and 
took his wet clothes out of his bags, which they rinsed, 
dried, and ironed. He sang a hymn, prayed, and gave 
them an exhortation that night. The next morning the 
man of the house alarmed that and another village, so 
that by seven o'clock, he had about three hundred to 
preach to, who all seemed to receive the word with joy ; 



PORTRAITURE OY METHODISM. 119 

Me was soon after informed, that the man and his wife, 
who received him, had received the Lord that sent him. 

After preaching at many places in the way, he got 
home, and found his wife much better than she had 
been, though never likely to recover her former strength, 
owing to a persecution she met with at Wakefield, when 
Mr. Larwood was mobbed there. After they had abu- 
sed him, she with some other women, set out for Birstal, 
a mob followed them into the fields; when they over- 
took them, she turned about and spake to them, upon 
which all the men returned without touching them ; 
but the women followed them till they came to a gate., 
where they stopped them : they damned her, saying, 
" You are Nelson's wife, and here you shall die." — 
They saw she wa^big with child, yet beat her on the 
body so cruelly, that they killed the child, and she went 
home and miscarried immediately. 

Having occasionally wrought at his business, and 
sometimes travelled into different parts to preach the 
gospel, after preaching at Adwalton, a few miles from 
Leeds, Joseph Gibson, the constable's deputy, an ale- 
house-keeper, who found his craft was in danger, pres- 
sed him for a so-dier. Mr. Nelson asked him by whose 
order this was done. He said, " Several of the inhab- 
itants of the town, who did not like so much preaching." 
And by his talk it appeared they were they of his own 
craft, and the clergyman, who had agreed together. 
They took him to a public house. Mr. Charlesworth 
offered 500Z bail for him till the next day. But no bail 
would be taken. He was removed the next day to Hal- 
ifax. When he was brought before the commissioners, 
they smiled one at another, as soon as they saw him. 
They told the door-keepers not to let any man come 
in ; but Mr. Thomas Brooks had p;ot in with him : and 
they said, " That is one of hh converts." They asked 
the constable's deputy what he had against him ? he 
answered, * I hwe nothing to say against him, but that 
he preaches to the people; and some of our townsmen 
don't like so much preaching." They broke out in 
laughter, and one of them swore he was fit to go for & 
soldier, for there he might have preaching enough. — 
Mr. Nelson said, " Sir, you ought not to swear, "Well," 



120 A THUE AND COMPLETE 

said the commissioners, "you have no license to preacl^ 
and you shall go for a soldier. He answered, " I have 
as much right to preach as you have to swear." One 
said to the captain, " Captain, is he fit for you ?" He 
answered, yes : M Then take him away." They refu- 
sed to hear several of his neighbours, who were ready 
to speak to his character. The minister of Birstal, who 
was one of the commissioners, displayed very great en- 
mity against him, and did all he could to injure him 
and his friends in the esteem of the other commission- 
ers. The papers sent on his behalf were not suffered to 
be put on the file, lest if they should be called for, they 
should make against them. 

From Halifax he was conducted to Bradforth,and was 
put into the dungeon, which was a loathsome, stinking 
place. One of the soldiers offered the captain, th&t if 
he would give him charge over Mr. Nelson, that he 
would answer with his life, that he should be forth-com- 
ing in the morning. Mr. Nelson offered to pay a guard 
to be set over him in a room. But the captain answer- 
ed, " My order is to put you in the dungeon." In the 
morning, about four o'clock, his wife, and several 
friends, came to the dungeon, and spoke to him through 
the hole of the door. His wife said, " Fear not : the 
cause is God's for which you are here, and he will plead 
it himself. Therefore be not concerned about me and 
the children : for he that feeds the young ravens will 
be mindful of us. He will give you strength for your 
day; and after we have suffered a while, he will perfect 
that which is lacking in our souls, and then bring us 
where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the 
weary are at rest." 

The next day he was guarded to Leeds ; and just as 
the service began at the church, he was guarded to the 
jail. Several offered to give bail for him, and even a 
stranger offered an hundred pounds. But the offer was 
refused. But a friend sent him a bed to lie on. 

The next day, he and some other pressed men^ were 
marched to York. He was taken before several officers, 
who seemed to rejoice as men that had taken great spoil, 
and saluted him with many grievous oaths. He asked 
these officers, " Do you believe there is a God, and that 



P0RTRA.1TU&K OF METHODISM. 121 

he is a God of truth?" They said, " We do." He an- 
swered, u I cannot believe you, I tell you plainly." — 
They asked, " Why so ?" He replied, " I cannot think 
that any man of common understanding, who believes 
that God is true, dare take his name in vain ; much less 
do you believe that God can hear you, when you pray 
him to damn your souls." They said, " You must not 
preach here ; you must not talk so to us that are offi- 
cers." He told them, there was but one way to pre- 
vent it, and that was to swear no more in his hearing. 

As he was guarded through York, the streets and 
windows were filled with people, who shouted and 
huzza'd, as if he had been one who had laid waste 
the nation. But the Lord made his brow like brass, 
so that he could pass through the city as if there had 
been none in it but God and himself. But during 
his stay in York, he had full exercise for his under- 
standing, faith, and patience. However, God gave 
him friends, and some even among the soldiers. And 
when he left the city, many of the people said to him* 
;t We are sorry you are going so soon from York; but 
if you get your liberty, we hope both you and Mr. Wes- 
ley will come ; for we have need of such plain dealing, 
and thousands in this city would be glad to hear. Wz 
expected some of you two or three years ago : but you 
had no regard for our souls, till God brought you by 
force. Surely you were not sold hither, but sent for our 
good : therefore, forget us not." 

From York they were marched northward through 
Easingwold, Northallerton, Darlington, and Durham to 
Sunderland. The people crowded to see him in his 
journey, and he embraced every opportunity of instruct- 
ing them in the truths of the gospel. God wonderfully 
supported him in his trials ; and Mr. Wesley contrived 
to see him at Durham. He exhorted him to watch and 
pray, and told him, he did not doubt but his captivity 
would turn to the glory of God, and the furtherance of 
the gospel. " Brother Nelson," said he, "lose no time ; 
speak and spare not, for God has work for you to do in 
every place where your lot is cast : and when you have 
fulfilled his good pleasure, he will break your bonds in 
sunder, and we shall rejoice together." They then 



122 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

prayed, and commended each other to the grace of 
God. The day following he was marched to Sunder- 
land. Here he met with sundry comforts and encou- 
ragements, and some trials and persecutions. An offi- 
cer who thought well of him, procured him a furlough 
to Newcastle for a week: and shortly after, he receiv- 
ed a letter from Mr. Charles Wesley, informing him, 
that the Earl of Sunderland had assured Lady Hunting- 
don, that he should be set at liberty in a few days. He 
was discharged accordingly. One of the officers bore 
testimony, that Jie had done much good among them : 
for that they had not one third the cursing and swear- 
ing among them which they had before he came. 

He returned home to his wife, children, and friends, 
at Birstal. After some time he went to York; and 
found that the seed sown in his captivity had sprung up ; 
for nineteen had found peace with God, and twice as 
many were under convictions, though they had no one 
to instruct them in his absence, but the little books he 
had left them. 

Soon after, Mr. Wesley sent for him to London, and 
many came to hear him out of curiosity, when they 
heard it was the man who had been in prison ; and 
some were convinced of the truth they heard. While 
he was in London, he received a letter, inviting him to 
go and preach at Sunderland : two men, who had con- 
versed with him when there, having found the Lord, 
and said that their souls panted for the salvation of 
their neighbours. Soon after, therefore, he preached 
at Sunderland Cross, to the chief part of the inhabi- 
tants of the town, who behaved well, and God visited 
many with his salvation. Sometime after he visited 
Bristol, and spent four months there, and in some parts 
of Somerset and Wiltshire. God wroughtjby his instru- 
mentality : " Though the instrument be ever so weak," 
said he, " if God command it, a worm shall shake the 
earth." 

It was at this time that the Scotch rebels entered 
England, but were soon turned back. This occasioned 
a general joy; but with regard to many, this joy was 
of the frantic, and licentious sort. Accordingly, when 
Mr. Nelson left Bristol, he met with many sufferings. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 123 

Almost at every place where he came to preach, mobs 
were raised as if they were determined to kill him, be- 
cause the rebels were conquered. Even in the neigh- 
bourhood of his native place, he met with great abuse. 
And when he paid another visit to York he was cruelly 
persecuted, and narrowly escaped being killed by law- 
less and violent mobs. When preaching on He worth- 
moor, (falsely called Hep worth-moor in Nelson's Jour- 
nal) about a mile north of York, a popish gentleman 
brought a mob, and cried out, " knock out the brains 
of that mad dog;" and perfectly gnashed with his teeth. 
Immediately a shower of stones came and hit many of 
the people, till not one could stand near him. As he 
was going away, one struck him with a piece of brick on 
the back of his head, and he fell flat on his face, and 
must have lain for some time, had not two men helped 
him up ; but he could not stand. The blood ran down 
his back quite into his shoes, and the mob followed him 
-through the city, swearing they would kill him when 
they got him out of it. But a gentleman pulled him in- 
to his house, and dispersed the mob. After resting a 
while, he rode to Acomb, (improperly called Acklam iu 
his Journal,) a town about two miles to the west of 
York, where he was to have preached at five o'clock 
But while he and two of his friends were walking in a 
field near to where he intended to preach, two stout 
men came, and one of them swore, " Here he is ; I will 
kill him if there be not another man alive." He pulled 
off his hat and wig, and gave them to his companion,, 
saying* " If I do not kill him, I will be damned." He 
then fiercely attacked him, threw him down, leaped 
with his knees on his belly several times, till he had 
nearly beaten the breath out of him, and caused his 
head to bleed again. He then went to the gentlemen, 
who had hired him and the other man to kill Mr. Nel- 
son, and said, " Gentlemen, I have killed the preacher, 
he lies dead in the croft." The parson's brother said, 
" Well, we will see ourselves ; we will not take your 
word," Upon which, he and about twenty more came 
to Mr. Nelson. But he had recovered his breath, was 
turned on his face, and lay bleeding upon the ground* 
They lifted him up, but as soon as he could speak, he 



124 A TKL T E AXD COMPLETE 

said, "Your mercy is only to make way for more crur 
elty. Gentleman, if I have done any thing contrary to 
the law, let me be punished by the law ; I am a subject 
to King George, and I appeal to the law; and 1 am 
willing to go before the Lord Mayor, as the King's nta 
gistrate." But they cursed him and the king too, say- 
ing, he was as bad as him and his fellows, or he would 
have hanged them all like dogs before that time : and 
one said, " if he were here, we would serve him as bad 
as you. The parson's brother cursed Mr. Nelson, and 
said, " According to your preaching, you would prove 
our ministers to be blind guides, and false prophets ; 
but we will kill you as fast as you come." When he 
got into the street, they huzza'd, one gave him a hasty 
pluck by the right hand, and another struck him on the 
left side of his head, and knocked him down. This 
they did eight times. And when at last he was unable 
to rise again, they took him by the hair of his head, and 
dragged him upon the stones for near twenty yards, 
some kicking him on his sides and thighs with their feet 
as the others dragged him along. Then six of them 
got upon him, and said they would tread the Holy Ghost 
out of him. They then told him to order his horse, 
that they might see him out of the town. But he 
thought they intended to kill him privately, and so re- 
fused to go. Afterwards they attempted to throw him 
into a draw-well, but were prevented. Some friends 
got him up, and helped him into the house. Then the 
mob set out for York, singing obscene songs : and this 
was on Easter-Sunday. This was about the year 1 749. 
From that time till his death, in 1774, he was stead- 
fast and immovable, always abounding in the work of 
the Lord. He fought the good fight, and kept the faith, 
till he finished his course rather suddenly at Leeds, and 
was buried at Birstal, where he was born. His friends 
put a monumental stone over his remains, to tell where 
he lies, and to perpetuate his memory. But this has 
been far better perpetuated by his labours, and the ac- 
count which he published of the first forty-two years of 
his life. 

He was a man of great bodily strength and vigour; 
of a good understanding and ready thought ; of firm 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 125 

integrity and genuine piety; mighty in the Scriptures, 
and apt to teach ; and his labours in preaching the gos- 
pel were crowned with great success. He was the first 
Methodist, and the first Methodist preacher in York- 
shire. Since then what hath god wrought ! 



Mr. Christopher Hopper, 

was among the first Methodist preachers, and deserves 
to be had in remembrance. He was born on Christmas . 
day, 1 722, at Ryton, in the Bishopric of Durham. 

While he was very young, he was greatly affected 
by the awful death of his schoolmaster, who drowned 
himself. He had catechized his scholars twice every 
week, and made them attend the church on Sundays, 
and all holy-days appointed for divine worship. One, 
week, Mr. Hopper thought he was more devout than 
usual. The following Sabbath he received the Lord's 
Supper at Ryton church. A few days after a gentle- 
man persuaded him to play a game at cards. This was 
followed by such distress of mind, that after much in- 
ward conflict, he sunk into despair, and committed sui- 
cide. This melancholy event was the means of serious- 
ly impressing young Hopper's mind with thoughts of 
death, judgment, hell, and heaven ; and he began to 
discern the difference between the righteous and the 
wicked. These impressions were increased by a bodi- 
ly illness, which continued nearly two years. When 
the doctor pronounced him incurable, he was alarmed, 
and filled with fear. But he read the Bible, and other 
books of piety, called upon God, and began to see more 
into the sinfulness of his heart and life. In a while, he 
obtained a good hope through grace, and was comforted. 
He felt himself happy in the love of God, and of all 
mankind. But after his health was restored, he did 
not cleave to the Lord, and was again entangled by the 
world and sin. 

After spending some time at school, he inclined to be 
a musician, and applied himself to that science with 
great assiduity. He then undertook the management 
of a waggon, on the rail ways between the coal-mines 
and the river Tyne. For five years he employed him* 

L..2 



i26> A TRUE ANH COMPLETE 

self in this business, and agriculture : and during thi? 
period he was a slave to folly and sinful pleasures. — 
Bui conscience often reproved him, and he sometimes 
felt sorrow of heart. He found Satan's service perfect 
drudgery, and all earthly things vanity and vexation of 
spirit; Sometimes he reflected on the happiness he had 
enjoyed in his affliction : but it then appeared to him as 
a dream. A remarkable and very providential escape 
from instant death, by the overturning of a waggon, 
had a good effect upon him. He was thankful, humble, 
and desirous to be guided into the way of peace. But 
spiritual guides, of the right sort, were then very scarce, 
When Mr. Hopper was about twenty years of age, Mr, 
Wesley, and his brother Charles, visited Newcastle* 
upon-Tyne, and the neighbourhood ; great crowds flock- 
ed to hear them ; and a large society was soon formed 
in Newcastle. All mouths were filled with Wesley, 
and his followers; some for, and many against them.— 
A considerable bustle about religion was made among 
all sects and parties, and Mr. Hopper bustled among the 
rest. At length he became truly serious. He heard 
for himself, and received with meekness the ingrafted 
word, which he proved to be the power of God unto 
salvation. It came to his heart with power, and in the 
Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. The veil was re- 
moved, and the true light shone upon him. His cry 
was, " God be merciful to me a sinner." He saw into 
the plan of salvation through Christ Jesus, and he be- 
lieved on him to the saving of his soul, and went on his 
way rejoicing. Soon after, Mr. Wesley formed a little- 
society at Low-Spenn, where Mr. Hopper lived, and 
made him the leader. He attended four or five meet- 
ings every week, where they prayed, sung psalms and 
hymns, read the scriptures, and exhorted one another to 
love and good works. God gave them prosperity.—* 
Many of his old companions were awakened, and turn- 
ed from sin ; and his aged mother, a sister, and a bro- 
ther also, who had been a notorious sinner, but who 
lived to be an ornament to religion, till he died in a 
good old age. Mr. Hopper began to preach, and he 
was soon invited to many places in the neighbourhood. 
The fire kindled, and the flame spread : many sinners 



PORTRAITURE OK METHODISM. 127 

were turned from darkness to light, and from the power 
of Satan to God. But, as might be expected, he met 
with persecution. Men of all ranks combined their in- 
fluence to stop this blessed work of God. For a me- 
chanic to stand up to preach the gospel, was deemed 
intolerable. Mr. Hopper, and the other lay-preachers 
were opposed, not by scripture and reason, but by lies 
and slander, rotten eggs, brick-bats, stones, and such 
like arguments. The common cry was, " Press them 
for soldiers ; send them on board a man of war ; send 
them to prison, or knockout their brains; for there is 
no law for them ." But this was a great mistake, there 
was law for them ; but hardly a magistrate could be 
found who had principle or courage enough to do them 
justice. John Nelson, and several others, were pressed 
about this time; and the persecutors eagerly sought for 
an opportunity to seize on Mr. Hopper; but he was re- 
narkably protec ted. Tribulation and persecution aris- 
ing because of tlie nwrd, induced him to consider more 
attentively his call to the work, and to count the cost. 
He wished only for a rational and scriptural evidence ; 
and after a serious and deliberate consideration, he was 
satisfied, that a dispensation of the gospel was commit- 
ted to him, and that it was his duty to preach the word* 
For about five years he taught a school, and during 
this time he preached much, and formed many societies 
amongst the hills in the north; especially at Hindley- 
Hill, Allendale, Weardale, Ninihead, and Alstone, and 
m crossing the Fells, or enormous mountains, he endu- 
red much hardship, and was exposed to great dangers. 
He now became an itinerant preacher, and in 1750. ac- 
companied Mr. Wesley to Ireland, and the year after to 
Scotland. A great part of the year 1753, he spent in 
Ireland, principally in Dublin and Cork. In 1755, he 
buried his first wife. She was an affectionate wife, a 
faithful friend, and a very agreeable companion. She 
made his joys and sorrows her own, and they walked in 
the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blame- 
less. 

In September, 1 7 5 6, in company with four other preach- 
ers, he embarked once more for Ireland, and spent 
the winter in Dublin. In the spring he went to Cork 



128 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

and Limerick. After sustaining reproaches, and vari- 
ous severe trials, he was taken ill of a fever : the doc- 
tor thought he would die ; Mr. Hopper took his leave of 
the world, having clear views of paradise, and the world 
of happy spirits. When apparently on the brink of 
eternity, he fell into a sweet sleep, and dreamed that 
he was dead, and that his spirit was with Christ, in un- 
speakable happiness; but when he awoke, his fever was 
gone : and from that moment he began to recover. His 
bodily strength was soon restored, and he went forth 
again into the vineyard. 

In April, 1759, he married his second wife- " God," 
says he, " made his face to shine upon us, and amply 
rewarded me for all my days of mourning. He doubly 
restored to me all temporal and spiritual blessings. This 
was a day of prosperity ; and therefore I thought it a 
day of danger. I was now favoured with an agreeable* 
loving companion, a good house, a pleasant situation, 
and all things to make life easy and comfortable. I 
must confess I found a desire to settle, but not to leave 
my Master's work. I began a little business, and had now 
a fair opportunity to step into the world; but my blessed 
Lord would not suffer me: he showed me that his good 
work would bring me far more gain in the end than all 
the shops in Newcastle." Leaving his business to the 
care of Mrs. Hopper, he paid another visit to Scotland, 
and laboured in different places till the following year. 
From 1 763 to 1 765, he also spent in Scotland : the two 
following years in and about Newcastle-upon-Tyne. — 
During these two years, he laboured under much bodily 
affliction, and appeared to be nearly worn out : but he 
could say, " When I am weak, then am I strong." 

The n$xt two years, that is, from August, 1768, to 
August 1770, he spent in the Birstal circuit with great 
satisfaction and success. The next year he removed 
to Bradford; and then spent two more years among his 
Wends in the Newcastle circuit. The two years fol- 
lowing he laboured in and about Liverpool and Bolton. 
He paid a short visit to Ireland: and from the confer- 
ence in 1 777, to that in 1 779, he laboured in the Brad- 
ford circuit; the two years following in the Colne cir- 
cuit Not long after this, in consequence of the in- 



PORTRAITIjUE OF METHODISM. ±29 

creasing infirmities of age, he took up his residence at 
Bolton-Ie-moors, being now a superannuated preacher. 
During forty years, he was a travelling preacher; and 
the whole period of his ministry was about fifty-seven 
years, being the oldest Methodist preacher upon the list 
at the time of his decease. He was a man of sound un~ 
derstanding, and extensive information, while his piety 
was genuine and exemplary. As a preacher, he was a 
son of thunder. His manner was peculiar to himself, 
and his energy was frequently very extraordinary. At 
these times, his discourses would impress iiis congre- 
gation in a most uncommon manner. In person, he 
was tall and graceful ; in manners, plain, but agreeable; 
and in spirit firm, independent, and courageous. He- 
was without partiality or hypocrisy, and feared the face 
of no man. In his last illness he displayed great pa- 
tience, possessed great inward peace, and was favored 
with frequent and strong consolations. A few days be- 
fore his death, he said, " I have not a shadow of a doubt: 
and as for the enemy, I know not what is become of 
him ; I have neither seen him, nor heard of him for a 
longtime: I think he has quitted the field. 5 ' He re- 
tained his confidence in God to the last ; and in joyful 
hope of future glory, fell asleep in Jesus, in the eightieth 
year of his age. 

I shall only add, that though Mr. Hopper had such 
great talents as a preacher, and had been so long, and 
so useful in the work, yet he had no disposition to as- 
sume dominion over his brethren ; and in his whole 
conduct made it manifest, that he did not wish to lord 
it over God^s heritage. His life was unblemished ; his 
labours were abundantly useful ; and his death was that 
of an aged apostle, who could say, " I have fought a 
good fight; I have finished my course ; I have kept the 
faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of 
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will 
give unto me." 

Mr. Joseph Cownley, 

was a native of Leominster, in Herefordshire, and was 
born June the 26th, 1723, During his childhood, he 



130 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

had serious impressions upon his mind respecting his 
soul and eternity, fie discovered the wickedness of his 
heart ; but did not understand the plan by which the 
health of his spirit might be recovered. He availed him- 
self of the conversation of such serious people as he had 
any acquaintance with ; but did not understand the 
right ways of the Lord, till he heard Mr. Wesley preach 
several times in Bath, to which city he had accompani- 
ed a neighbouring gentleman. Under these discourses', 
he learnt the knowledge of himself, and the way of sal- 
vation. For this salvation he made humble and ear- 
nest application to the throne of grace, and soon found 
the pearl of great price. 

In the year 1 744, he began to preach a little in and 
near the place of his nativity. And these his first ef- 
forts, were not only approved of, but were crowned 
with success, being instrumental to the reformation and 
salvation of some of his neighbours. 

In about two years he became an itinerant preacher 
under the direction of Mr. Wesley. For this great and 
arduous undertaking he was eminently qualified, and 
his labours were abundant, both in England and Ire- 
land. He was much esteemed as a preacher ; and what 
is still better, the Lord accompanied the word spoken 
by him with the powerful influence of his Spirit, so that 
sinners were converted, and saints edified. But in 
1755, he had a severe fever, that so affected his nervous 
system, that his useful labours were considerably inter- 
rupted, and an incurable pain settled in his head : from 
which he was never entirely free, by day or by night, 
for between thirty and forty years. 

After this affliction, he spent the chief part of his life 
at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the places in its vicinity* 
He possessed a competency, and gave his labours with- 
out reward. In these he was diligent, as well as faith- 
ful to the end of his days. He was very highly esteem- 
ed for his work's sake; and great deference was paid to 
his judgment in matters relating to religion and religious 
societies. If he spoke, the matter was generally de- 
cided. The depth and soundness of his understanding 
were well known, as well as the integrity and impartiali- 
ty of his heart. He thought much; and as he did not talk 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 131 

much, what he said was the more attended to. Whafe 
ever place he favoured with his visits, he met with a 
hearty welcome, and was received as a messenger of 
the Lord. 

At the conference in 1788, he was prevailed upon to 
accept of an appointment to the Edinburgh and Glas- 
gow circuit. But life was too far advanced, and his 
powers were too much debilitated, to leave him fully ad- 
equate to the constant labour of those places. Howev- 
er, he exerted the strength he had, and the people high- 
ly esteemed and reverenced him. 

About Christmas, when he removed from Edinburgh 
to Glasgow, he requested Mr. Wesley to let him have a 
young man to assist him in his work in that city : and 
he did me the honour to mention my name. The re- 
quest was granted, and I went to him on New-Year's 
day. Till the July following, I resided in the same 
apartments with him, and heard him preach, and preach- 
ed before him several times every week : and I have 
ever reflected upon that favoured period of my life with 
pleasure, though there were some circumstances belong- 
ing to the government of the society of the most disa- 
greeable nature I ever met with. But we had peace 
and harmony between ourselves, and our days, weeks,, 
and months succeeded each other in comfort. He was 
a man of genuine and eminent piety; of a sound, clear, 
and deep understanding ; and of various information.— 
He possessed genuine Christian gravity, and yet was 
easy, familiar, pleasant, and sometimes a little facetious 
in conversation. His manners were plain and simple, 
yet very agreeable. He was very seldom, if ever, out 
of temper himself, and very seldom contributed to ruffle 
the temper of any other person. He gave attendance to 
reading and meditation : he was seldom without a book 
in his hand. His sermons were well digested and ar- 
ranged ; generally short, and yet containing much mat- 
ter; he appeared to possess endless variety, and yet al- 
ways dwelt upon matters of essential importance. In 
the pulpit he was never threadbare, nor ever took up 
his time, and that of the people, witt* things of inferior 
importance, for the purpose of increasing his variety.— * 
He constantly wrote short sketches ef hh sermons^ 



132 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

and in his latter days, he put the divisions and subdi- 
visions upon a small slip of paper, and laid it upon the 
bible in the pulpit while he preached, in order that if 
his memory failed him, he might relieve himself by cast- 
ing his eye upon his paper. This is a practice I do not 
recommend; but he was an old man, with a decayed 
memory, and who had to preach constantly to the same 
congregation. In general, he preached twice every 
week in our chapel, called the Oqhan-house, in New- 
castle, and that for between thirty and forty years. — 
And after delivering thousands of discourses in the same 
pulpit, it was a general remark, " Mr. Cownley has al- 
ways something new." In most particulars, he was a 
perfect model for a preacher. Plainness, perspicuity, 
rational and scriptural argument, were visible in all his 
sermons. Gaudy oratory, and noisy declamation, he 
despised, and uniformly avoided. His aim was not to 
be a popular, but a scriptural and useful preacher. And 
yet he had popularity, and that of the best sort, in a high 
degree. He was an excellent husband, an affection- 
ate father, and an invaluable friend. He was a man of 
peace, who studied to give no offence to Jew or Gentile, 
or the church of God. He was harmless and undefiled, 
a child of God without rebuke, amidst a crooked and 
perverse generation. He was an Israelite indeed, in 
whom was no guile. 

In the former part of the year 1792, he evidently ap- 
peared to be fast ripening for a better country. The 
concerns of eternity seemed to absorb his whole soul. 
When engaged in prayer with his family, and at the 
houses of his friends, he was melted into tears, while he 
enjoyed the closest union with God. During a minis- 
terial visit to the country, in September, he got cold, 
which brought on a complaint in his stomach, with 
which he had been frequently afflicted. His last text 
was, Psa. cv. 3, " Let the heart of them rejoice who seek 
the Lord." And with this discourse, Sunday, September 
23, 1 792, he closed the labours of near half a century. 

On his return home, the best medical assistance was 
procured, but in vain. " My heavenly Father," said 
he, " is my best physician : he is my only physician." 
A friend said, * The blood of the Redeemer is previous 



PORTRAIT HUE OF METHODISM. IBS 

in our dying moments:" He answered, " O precious ! 
O precious ! what should I do but for that?" Seeing 
him in extreme pain, the doctor said, " Do not be 
afraid." Mr. Cownley replied, « The fear of death, 
Sir, has long since been removed ; I am not afraid to 
die, but I am afraid lest I shall become impatient under 
this affliction." When the physician withdrew, while 
the sweat fell in large drops from his face, he fervently 
exclaimed, "Jesus, I am thine. Thou art my only 
physician. But if it is thy will, and I have finished the 
work thou hast committed to me, then take me to thyself." 

Afterwards he said, " Lord, how little have I done for 
thee." The last sabbath before his death, the consola- 
tions of God were so sweet to him, that his cup of joy 
ran over. " I feel," said he, such love in my heart, 
that if I were carried to the chapel, I could sit and 
preach to the people. But his work was done, and an- 
gels were ready to carry his spirit to the regions of rest 
and happiness. 

In October, when at Cork, in Ireland, I received a 
letter from my esteemed friend, Mr. Gaulter, informing 
me of his death. In the evening of the 8th of October, 
he sat down to supper ; his daughter Mary had with- 
drawn into an adjoining room. She shortly heard a 
noise and returned : but he was speechless. 

•' Death broke at once the mortal chain, 
And forc'd his soul the nearest way." 

Reclining his head on the chair, without a struggle or a 
groan, he resigned his soul to God. 

In a selection of characters, intended as a specimen 
of the whole body of preachers, it would be criminal to 
omit 

Mr. Thomas Hanby. 

He was born at Carlisle, December 16, 1733, and was 
brought up at Barnard-Castle. Both his parents died 
while he was very young. His relations put him to 
school for some years, and then to a trade. His first se- 
rious impressions were made when about six years of 
age. Looking up to heaven, he was struck with won- 

M 



134 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

der, and exclaimed, God Almighty ! But he was seized 
with horror, ran home, and shut the door. Some years 
after he was greatly alarmed by hearing his sister talk 
about the day of judgment, which he had not heard men- 
tioned before. But these impressions wore off, and he 
began to be 

" Rough in his manners, and untam'd his mind." 

When he was about thirteen years old, hearing the bish- 
op was coming to confirm the children in the town 
where he lived, he thought some preparation was neces- 
sary. He applied to a relation, who taught him some 
prayers, and the church catechism, which he had for- 
gotten, though he had been taught it at school. The 
sabbath came when the bishop was to confirm : and 
he having gone through his examination with the 
minister, had episcopal hands laid upon him. This 
was in the forenoon; and towards evening he went with 
some of his companions into the fields, and played at 
their usual games. But before he went to bed, he was 
?truck with horror, and thought he heard a voice say, 
* Thy confirmation is made void, for thou hast broken 
the sabbath." He knew not what to do, but thought he 
would try to make himself good, by reading and repeat- 
ing many prayers. He continued in this state, till a 
poor shoemaker from Leeds, who was a Methodist, hav- 
ing received the truth himself, was willing to impart it 
to others : not, indeed, by preaching, but by friendly 
discourse with his former acquaintances ; for he was a 
native of Barnard-Castle. A few were enlightened, and 
began to meet together. Mr. Hanby was at first incli- 
ned to mock them, but was convinced that those despi- 
sed persecuted people, were able to show him the way 
of salvation. He begged he might be permitted to meet 
with them, and his request was granted. And from that 
time he embraced every opportunity of meeting with 
them. However, after some time, his relation before- 
mentioned, under the influence and direction of the 
minister of the parish, prevailed on Mr. Hanby to leave 
the Methodists. They formed a church society, which 
was soon larger than that of the Methodists- This so- 
ciety consisted of formal professors, who could play.at 



P0ET&A1TURR OF METHODISM. 135 

cards, and conform to the world in almost every thing. 
However, as might be expected, this society dwindled 
away till only Mr. Hanby and his cousin remained of it. 
They both returned, and solicited re-admission among 
the Methodists. His cousin obtained the peace of God, 
and walked in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts 
of the Holy Ghost, till he died. Mr. Hanby was instiant 
in prayer, till his weary heavy-laden spirit received re- 
mission of sins, and was filled with peace and joy in 
believing. 

When he was about eighteen years of age, he spent a 
few months in Newcastle, and by constantly attending 
the preaching, night and morning, he was much profited 
and established. This induced him to visit Leeds, in 
hope of obtaining similar advantages, in which he was 
not disappointed. Meantime, his delight was in the 
law of the Lord, and in his law did he meditate day and 
night. 

About this time, a sudden impression was made upon 
his mind that he must preach the gospel. But he thought 
it to be only a temptation; and was the more reluctant 
to entertain the idea, from what he had seen the preach- 
ers suffer from violent persecuting mobs at Barnard 
Castte. For some time his mind was painfully exerci- 
sed upon the subject. He was informed of a poor wo- 
man, a member of the society, who was dying, and who 
was said to be wonderfully happy. He desired a friend 
to take him to see her, and as they went, he prayed to 
the Lord to remove the load of painful exercise from 
his mind, and that if it was his will that he should 
preach, he would show it to the dying saint he was go- 
ing to visit. "Lord," said he, " thou canst as easily do 
this, as enable her to triumph over death. If thou wilt 
show me a token, by which I may know thy will, then 
will I preach thy word wherever thou shalt please to 
send me." When he reached the house, as he was an 
entire stranger to the woman, and all the family, he 
stood at a distance. After some time he went out, and 
when he returned, was informed the dying woman had 
made much inquiry about the young man who had stood 
in the corner. He went to the side of her bed, and she 
looked him earnestly in the face, and said, " God has 



136 A TRtJK AND COMMUTE 

called you to preach the gospel; you have long reject* 
ed the call ; but he will make you go; obey the call, 
obey the call." He now resolved to make a trial. He 
preached his first sermon at Bramley, about four miles 
from Leeds, and again the same day at Armley, Im* 
mediately he was employed by the preachers, and soon 
after went into Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Derby- 
shire. He introduced Methodism at Ashbourn, and 
Burton-upon-Trent ; and there, and at Leek, and some 
other places, suffered much persecution, and very nar* 
rowly escaped being killed. 

He says, " In weariness and painfulness* in hunger 
and thirst, in joy and sorrow, in weakness and trem- 
bling, were my days now spent. And I have often 
thought, if God would excuse me from this hard task, 
how gladly should I embrace the life of a shoe-black, or 
of a shepherd's boy. I was surrounded with death, and 
could seldom expect to survive another day, because of 
the fury of the people. And yet it was, Woe unto thee, 
if thou preach not the gospel." 

In 17 75, he was sent to Canterbury. It was about 
eight o'clock at night, when he got within sight of the 
lamps of the city: just then, two men with large pistols, 
rushed upon him, and demanded his money : he had on- 
ly two shillings and eight pence ; but they took this, 
and also his watch. But he believed that this robbery 
was permitted for good. At that time an invasion was 
expected from France; Canterbury was full of soldiers, 
and they were two soldiers who committed the robbery. 
The report of this excited the curiosity of their com- 
rades to come and hear the preacher who had been rob- 
bed. And many of them were awakened out of the 
sleep of sin, and joined the society. 

Several of the following years he spent in Scotland. 
And he deemed this, in general, the happiest period of 
his life. 

In this brief sketch of the history and character of 
this excellent man, it may be sufficient to say, that he 
was employed as an itinerant preacher for more than 
forty years ; that in all this time his morals were unim- 
peachable ; and that both as a Christian and a preach* 
er, he was highly esteemed. He was a man of an ex- 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 1S7 

cellent spirit ; and eminently endowed with the meek- 
ness of wisdom. In matters of conscience, he display- 
ed true Christian fortitude. He was chosen president 
of the conference held in Bristol in the year 1 794, and 
was the first person, after Mr. Wesley, who filled that 
office, that was called from the church militant to the 
church triumphant. 

The next character which I shall introduce is that of - 
i 
Mr. Thomas Webb, 

who was a principal instrument of introducing Metho— 
dism into North America; he was not a travelling 
preacher, but a military officer, and well known by the 
name of Captain Webb. In the campaign of 1758, in 
which General Wolfe conquered Quebec, and lost his 
life, Captain Webb received a wound in his arm, and 
lost his right eye ; religion had no place in his heart at 
this time. But in 1 764, he was enlightened to see that 
he was a sinner; and so great a sinner, that he almost 
despaired of mercy. In 1765, the Lord brought him 
out of the horrible pit, and the miry clay, and set his 
feet upon a rock, and established his goings. Yea, he 
put a new song into his mouth, even of praise and 
thanksgiving to God* During this period he had no 
director but the Lord. However, quickly afterwards he 
became acquainted with Mr. Roquet, an evangelical 
minister in the established church, and through him, 
with the Methodists, w hen he soon resolved, " This 
people shall be my people, and their God my God." 

The first time he appeared as a public speaker, was 
in Bath. The preacher who was expected not coming, 
he was desired to speak a little to the congregation.— 
He dwelt chiefly upon his own experience, and the peo- 
ple were satisfied and refreshed. It was not long after 
this, that he was appointed Barrack Master of Albany \ 
and went to America ; when he arrived there, he reg- 
nlarly performed family prayer in his own house ; some 
of his neighbours frequently attended. * He often gave 
them a word of exhortation, and the encouragement he 
met with emboldened him to extend his Jabours. 

Under God. he was one of the first instruments of 
k 2 



138 A TRXTK AND COMPLETE 

planting Methodism on the continent of America. And 
there he erected the first Methodist chapel, which was 
in the city of New-York. In that city he preached 
with great success. He wrote to Mr. Wesley, entreat- 
ing him to send preachers to America : who accordingly 
in 1769, sent Mr. Richard Boardman, and Mr. Joseph 
Filmore. After his return to England, Mr. Webb took 
up his residence at Bristol, and preached there, as well 
^ in many places adjacent. In general, great multi- 
tudes flocked lo hear him ; many of whom did not hear 
in vain. He was instrumental in turning many from 
the ways of folly and sin to the paths of wisdom and 
holiness. Mr. Wesley mentions in his Journal, coming 
to a place where Captain Webb had lately been. — 
" The Captain, 1 ' says he, " is all life and fire, and 
therefore many will hear him that will not hear a better 
preacher. And it is very well they do, for he does a 
great deal of good." 

Bis death, although remarkably sudden, was not un- 
expected by him. For some time he appeared to have 
had a pre-sentiment of his approaching departure, and a 
few days before he was called hence, he expressed his 
wishes to a person concerning the place and manner of 
his interment. At the same time he said, " I should 
prefer a triumphant death: but I may be taken away 
suddenly. However, I know I am happy in the Lord, 
and shall be with him, and that is sufficient." A little 
before ten o'clock in the evening, December 20th, 1796, 
after taking his supper, and praying with his family, he 
went to bed, apparently in as good health as usual. But 
shortly his breathing became difficult. He arose, and 
sat at the foot of the bed : but while Mrs. Webb was 
standing by him, he fell back on the bed, and before 
any other person could be called, without a struggle or 
groan, he gave up the ghost, aged 72 years. 

I shall next introduce the character of 

Mr. Thomas Mitchell, 

who was born in the parish of Bingley, in the West* 
Riding of Yorkshire, December 3d, 1 726. During the 
rebellion of 1745, he became a soldier^ and continued 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 139 

so for about a year. Before this he had felt some fear 
of God, and had frequently employed himself in prayer; 
and after his discharge from the army, he joined the 
Methodist society. He several times heard John Nel- 
son to his profit; and under the ministry of Mr. Grim- 
shaw, was convinced that salvation is through faith ; 
and that the greatest of sinners may be saved by believ- 
ing in Christ Jesus. He heard Mr. Charles Wesley 
preach a sermon, in which he clearly shewed, that Christ 
is both able and willing to save the very chief of sinners. 
But when he asserted that we may know our sins forgiv- 
en, Mr. Mitchell was slow of heart to believe his testi- 
mony. However, he continued in prayer ; and in a 
few days was convinced, from joyful experience, that 
this doctrine was true. His guilty fears fled away, and 
he was filled with peace, and love to God and his neigh- 
bour. He saw and felt God to be his salvation, and he 
could trust in him without fear, and praise him with joy- 
ful lips. 

After many trials and deliverances, he felt a desire to 
turn others to the Lord. He saw his neighbours abound- 
ing in all manner of wickedness, and no man caring for 
their souls, or warning them to flee from the wrath to 
come. He saw his unfitness to speak in the name of 
the Lord, but yet began to reprove sin wherever he saw 
it. For this he was hated; but God endued him with 
courage. However, as jet, he doubted whether it was 
his duty to preach. But, in fear and trembling, he ven- 
tured to make a trial, and was encouraged by one person 
being convinced of sin. Some of his friends, neverthe- 
less, were not satisfied that he was called to be a preach- 
er; and he himself frequently doubted. He had great 
mental exercises for some time, but at la3t clearly saw 
his way. 

About this time, he met with much persecuting abuse 
at Yeadon and Guisely. In the day time he laboured 
diligently with his hands at his business, (that of a ma- 
son,) and employed his evenings in calling sinners to re- 
pentance. While doing this he was often interrupted 
by furious mobs. He made excursions, and preached in 
many places round about, with some success. He went 
into Lancashire, and after some time, formed a regular 
circuit, But in one place, a mob of women put him in* 



MO A TRUE ANB COMPLETE 

to a pond, the water of which took him nearly over the 
head, but he got safely out. He continued to labour^ 
encouraged by the example and advice of good Mr. 
GrimshaWo , 

In 1751, on Sunday, August 7, he preached at five 
o'clock in the morning, at a place called Rangedale in 
Lincolnshire. About six, two constables came at the 
head of a large mob ; they violently broke in upon the 
people, seized upon him, pulled him down, and took 
him to a public house, where they kept him tiil four in 
the afternoon. They then inquired of the minister 
whether they might let him go. The answer was, they 
must not let him go yet. So they took him out to the 
mob, which hurried him away, and threw him into a 
pool of standing water, which took him up to the neck* 
He strove to get out, but they pushed him in again, till 
having gone through it seven times, they let him come 
out. A man stood ready with a pot full of white paint, 
with which he painted him all over from head to foot, 
and then they took him to the public-house again.— 
Here they kept him till they had put five of his friends 
into the water. They then took Mr. Mitchell to a great 
pond, which was ten or twelve feet deep, and surround- 
ed with rails. Four men took him by thfe legs and arms, 
and swung him backward and forward. For a moment 
he felt his flesh shrink, but it was quickly gone. He 
gave himself up to the Lord, and was content that his 
will should be done. At length they threw him as far 
as they could into the water. The fall and the water 
soon took away his senses, so that he felt nothing more* 
But some of them were not willing he should be drown- 
ed, So they watched till he came above the water, 
and then caught hold of his clothes with a long pole, 
land made shift to drag him out. For some time he lay 
upon the ground senseless. When he came to himself, 
he saw only two men standing by him. One of them 
helped him up, and took him to a small house, where 
they put him to bed. But shortly the mob came again, 
pulled him out of bed, carried him into the street, and 
swore they would take away one of his limbs if he would 
not promise to come there no more. He told them he 
could promise no such thing. But the man who had 



^ORTHAITUKE OF METHODISM, 141 

hold of him, pretended to promise for hin^ and so he 
was again put to bed, Some of the mob then went 
again to the minister, to know what they must do with 
Mr. Mitchell, The minister said, w You must take him 
out of the parish." So they came and took him out of 
bed a second time. But he had no clothes to put on ; 
his own being wet, as well as covered with paint. But 
they put an old coat about him, took him about a mile, 
and set him upon a little hill. They shouted three 
times, " God save the king, and the devil take the 
preacher," and then left him. Here he was left without 
a penny in his pocket, or a friend to help him, for no one 
dare eorae near him. But though his strength was near- 
ly exhausted, he with difficulty reached the house of a 
friend, at some distance. In the midst of persecution 
he saw much fruit of his labouF; many were brought to 
know, love, and serve God? and as the sufferings of 
Christ abounded, the consolations by Christ abounded 
&lso. And as to these lions of Rangedale, an appeal to 
the Court of King's Bench made both them and their 
minister as quiet as lambs. 

It might be too tedious to give a regular detail of Mr. 
Mitchell's travels, ministerial labours, and afflictions, 
during the remaining part of his life, which was contin- 
ued above thirty years after this. Most of this time he 
was a travelling preacher. But the infirmities of age 
grew upon him, till he was obliged to sit down, and to 
preach only occasionally. His doctrines and his life 
agreed. 

The most striking trait in his character, as a preach- 
er, was his plain and familiar style of speaking. He 
had a remarkable art of explaining some of the most im- 
portant ideas in religion, by the most plain and simple 
comparisons. He entered into all the minutia, and all 
the feelings of poverty, family trials, and general afflic- 
tion, and was truly an able minister in comforting the 
distressed, and encouraging the poor, the tempted, and 
those who were cast down. And though his plain and 
striking comparisons would sometimes make his congre- 
gations smile, yet the greatest gravity was ever visible 
upon his own countenance. He was an admirable poor 
man's preacher, and well deserved the attention of the 



142 A TRUE AND COMFJLBTJ0 

rich. Nay, it is said, the discerning and philosophical 
Dr. Priestly has gone to hear him preach at five o'clock 
in a morning, and greatly admired his plain, artless dis- 
courses. In such language as might be expected from 
the Doctor, he expressed his high approbation of Mr. 
Mitchell, by saying, " Other men may do good ; but 
this man must do good; for it is all he aims at." When 
near death, his old friend, Mr. Hampson, senior, called 
upon him, and inquiring into the state of his mind, he 
answered, " I have been winding and winding all these 
years, and it just winds up at last." He died in peace, 
and in joyful expectation of entering into endless feli- 
city. In the conference report of his death, he is ealled 
" an old soldier of Jesus Christ." 

I shall only add, he had far more real talents than 
some who have been thought greatly his superiors, and 
his plain, and truly original discourses, were of far more 
genuine use, than those whose qualifications have been 
of a more popular and splendid description. One thing 
at least, was «ver apparent, that he was not a prophet 
who harrowed the word from his neighbour. " The pro- 
per way," said he once to me, " is for a man to culti- 
vate his own natural talent, and not to attempt to imi* 
tate any man." 

It would be an agreeable exercise to sketch the lives 
and characters of many more preachers, but I wish not 
to swell my book. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE DOCTMNES BELIE FEB AND TAUGHT BY 
THE METHODISTS. 

IN giving "a full and explicit statement" of the Doc- 
trines of " the Methodists," it will be peculiarly 
proper to insert some abstracts of Mr. Wesley's wri- 
tings upon the subject under consideration. His first 
four volumes of Sermons, united with his Notes on the 



POUYKAITtJKK OF METHODISM. ±43 

New Testament may be properly termed, The Test of 
the Doctrines among them. In most of the Deeds of 
Trust belonging to our chapels, it is inserted, that no 
preacher shall be suffered to preach there, who preaches 
any other doctrines than those contained in the Sermons 
and Notes. And that preacher must be one appointed 
hy the coherence. But there are other books which 
were published by Mr. Wesley, and have be$n contin- 
ued to be printed and sold ever since his death, under 
the authority and direction of the conference which are 
of equal authority in ascertaining the genuine Doctrines 
of Methodism, with this exception, that they are not 
mentioned in the Deeds of Trust. With something 
from some of these authorized publication, I purpose to 
conclude each article in the statement of doctrines, at 
least such as particularly distinguish the Methodists 
from Christians of other denominations. Indeed, in the 
main outlines, the Doctrines of Methodism differ very 
little, if at all, from those contained in the Articles, 
Homilies, and Liturgy of the Church of England. 

What I have inserted from Mr. Wesley's writings, is 
in general, as nearly in his own words as was practica- 
ble in making such extracts. Whatever little variation 
there may be from his language, there is no departure 
from his ideas. His sentiments are without addition or 
diminution, faithfully exhibited to the reader. And 
these opinions are (perhaps with a little want of uni- 
formity as ever existed among any denomination of 
Christians, at least of a body so numerous,) the senti- 
ments of the preachers and people composing the Meth- 
odist connexion. 

It may not be improper to observe, that I do not so 
much profess to defend Methodism, as to explain it. And, 
indeed, I think a true portraiture of the history, doc- 
trines, and disciplines of the Methodists, their best and 
only necessary defence. 

On the Object of Worship. 

1. The Methodists believe, concerning God and his 
attributes, that there is one God; that his existence is 
from everlasting to everlasting; that God is a Spirit-; 



14*1 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

that he is present in every place; knows every thing; 
is almighty in power ; is true and faithful ; pure and 
holy ; perfectly just ; and yet unspeakably merciful.— 
They believe further, that in the Unity of the Godhead 
there are Three Persons of one substance, power, and 
eternal existence, the Father, the Word, and the Holy 
Ghost 

An extract from Mr. Wesley's sermon " On the Trin- 
ity ," may come in here with propriety. The text is, 
i John v. 7. " There are three that bear record in hea- 
ven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and 
these three are one." 

He observes, that opinion, yea, even right opinion, is 
not religion. Persons may be quite right in their opin- 
ions, and yet have no religion at all. Can any one 
doubt this, while there are Romanists in the world? Ma- 
ny of them have been truly religious in former times, 
such as Gregory Lopez, Thomas-a-Kempis, and the 
Marquis de Renty, and many of them, at this day, are 
real inward Christians. And yet what a heap of erro- 
neous opinions do they hold, delivered by tradition 
from their fathers? Nay, who can doubt it, while there 
are assertors of absolute predestination ? Many of these 
In the last century were burning and shining lights, and 
many of them are now real Christians, loving God and 
all mankind. And yet, what absurdity equal to that, 
that one part of mankind shall be saved, do what they 
will, and the rest damned, do what they can ! Hence we 
Infer, there are many mistakes which may consist with 
true religion. But there are some truths more impor- 
tant than others ; some of very deep importance, as hav- 
ing a close connexion with vital religion. And doubt- 
less we may rank among these, that contained in the 
words of the text. I do not mean, that it is of impor- 
tance to believe this or that explication of these words. 
I know not that any well judging man would attempt 
to explain them at all. One of the best tracts which 
Dean Swift ever wrote, was his sermon upon the Trini- 
ty. In this he shows, that all who have endeavoured 
to explain it at all, have utterly lost their way: have 
above all other persons hurt the cause which they in- 
tended to promote ; have only, as Job speaks* darkened 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 145 

counsel by words without knowledge. I insist upon no 
explication at all ; no, not even the best I ever saw ; I 
mean that which is given us in the creed commonly as- 
cribed to Athanasius. I am far from saying, he who 
does not assent to this, " Shall, without doubt, perish 
everlastingly." I <lare not insist upon any one using 
the word Trinity or Person. I use them myself without 
scruple, because I know of none better. But if any 
man has any scruple concerning them, who shall eon- 
strain him to use them ? I would insist only on the 
words unexplained just as they lie in the text, " There 
are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the 
Word, and the Holy Ghost : and these three are one." 

Some have doubted whether the text was written by 
the apostle, or inserted in latter ages, particularly Ben- 
gclius. But his doubts were removed by three conside* 
rations. 1. Though it is wanting in many copies, yet 
it is found in many more, and those copies of the great- 
est authority. 2. It is cited by a whole train of ancient 
writers, from the time of St. John to that of Constantine. 
This argument is conclusive : for they could not have 
cited it, had it not then been in the sacred canon. 3. 
We can easily account for its being wanting after that 
time in many copies, when we remember that Constan- 
tineas successor was a zealous Arian, who used every 
means to promote his bad cause, and to spread Arianism 
through the empire : in particular, erasing this text out 
of as many copies as fell into his hands. And he so far 
prevailed, that the age in which he lived is commonly 
called, The Arian Age : there being only one eminent 
man who opposed him at the peril of his life* So that 
it was a proverb, " Athanasius against the world." 

But it is objected, " Whatever becomes of the text, 
we cannot believe what we cannot comprehend. — 
When, therefore you require us to believe mysteries, 
we pray you to have us excused." Here is a two-fold 
mistake. We do not require you to believe any mys- 
tery in this, as you suppose. But you do already be- 
lieve many things which you cannot comprehend. — - 
You believe there is a sun over your head. But you 
cannot comprehend how he moves, or how he rests ; or 
by what power he is upheld in the fluid ether. The 



146 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

fact you cannot deny ; but you cannot account for it so 
as to satisfy any rational inquirer. The manner you 
cannot comprehend. 

You believe there is such a thing as light, whether 
flowing from the sun, or any other luminous body. 
But you cannot comprehend either its nature, or the 
manner in which it flows. How does it move from Ju- 
piter to the earth in eight minutes, two hundred thou- 
sand miles in a moment ? How do the rays of a candle 
brought into a room, instantly disperse into every cor- 
ner ? Again, here are three candJes, yet there is but 
one light. Explain this, and I will explain the Three- 
One-God. 

You believe there is such a thing as air. It both 
covers you as a garment, and, " wide interfused embra- 
ces round this florid earth." But can you comprehend 
how ? Can you give me a satisfactory account Of its 
nature, or of its properties ? By no means. 

You believe there is such a thing as earth. You 
stand upon it. It supports you. But what supports 
the earth ? We know it is God that spreadeih out the 
north over the empty space, and hangeth the earth upon 
nothing." But who can account for this ? I know what 
is said concerning the powers of projection and attrac- 
tion. But matter of fact sweeps away the hypothesis. 
Connect the force of projection and attraction how you 
can, they will never produce a circular motion. The 
moment the projected steel comes within the attraction 
of the magnet, it does not form a curve, but drops down. 

You believe you have a soul, connected with your 
body. But can you tell how ? Can you comprehend 
what are the ties that unite the heavenly flame with 
the earthly clod ? You know it is so ; but how, none 
can tell. 

You believe you have a body together with your soul ? 
and that each is dependent on the other. Only run a 
thorn into your hand : immediately pain is felt in your 
soul. And if shame be felt in the soul, a Mush instant- 
ly overspreads your cheek. If the soul feels fear, or 
violent anger, the body trembles. At the command of 
your soul, your hand is lifted up. But who can account 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 1&7 

for this act of the mind and the outward actions ? Nay, 
who can account for muscular motion at all ? 

The plain inference is this : those who will not be- 
lieve any thing but what they can comprehend, must 
not believe there is a sun, that there is either light or 
air ; that there is any earth, though they stand upon it, 
or that they have either soul or body. 

You are not required to believe any mystery in the 
matter. It is only the fact you are required to believe ; 
and the mystery does not lie in the fact but in the man- 
ner. God said, " Let there be light, and there was 
light." I believe this as to fact ; but as to the manner 
of it, I believe nothing, and know nothing. The Word 
was made flesh. I believe thisfact also. But as to the 
manner of his being flesh, wherein alone the myste- 
ry lies, I know nothing about it, and I believe nothing 
about it. It is no more the object of my faith, than 
it is the object of my understanding. To apply this to 
the case before us. There are three thai bear record in 
heaven, and these three are one. I believe this fact also, 
(if I may use the expression) that God is Three and One> 
But the manner how, I do not comprehend : I do not be- 
lieve it. It is in the maimer that the mystery lies : and 
let it lie there ; for I have nothing to do with it. It is 
no object of my faith ; I believe just as much as God has 
revealed, and no more. The manner he has not revealed, 
and therefore I have nothing to do with it. But would 
it not be absurd in me to deny the fact, because I do not 
understand the manner? That is, to reject what God 
has revealed, because I do not comprehend what he has 
not revealed. This is a point much to be observed. — • 
There are many things which " eye hath not seen, nor 
ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man 
to conceive." Part of these God hath " revealed to us 
by his Spirit :" that is unveiled or uncovered. This 
part he requires us to believe. But part of these things 
he has not revealed : and that part we need not, and 
indeed cannot believe. 

Is it right to reject what is revealed, because we 
cannot understand what is not revealed? What God 
has been pleased to reveal upon this subject is a truth of 
the utmost importance. It is the center and root of all 



1*8 A TRUE AND C0MFLETE 

genuine Christianity. Unless they admit the divinity 
of the Son of God, how can they honour the Son even as 
ihey honour the Father ? And it is written, Let all the 
angels of God worship him* 

The knowledge of the Three-One-God is inter- 
woven with all true Christian faith? and with all vital 
religion. I know not how any one can be a Christian 
believer, till he hath (as St* John speaks) the ivitness iu 
hhmclf: till the Spirit of God witnesses with his spirit, 
that lu is a child of God: that is, in effect, till God the 
Holy Ghost witnesses, that God the Father has accept- 
ed him, through the merits of God the Son : and hav- 
ing this witness, he honours the Son, and the blessed 
Spirit, even as he honours the Father. 

The Methodists believe, that Jesus Christ is strictly 
and properly God, and at the game time man, and that 
he was incarnate by the Holy Ghost, ttorn of the Vir- 
gin Mary, lived a perfect holy life, proved himself to be 
the Son of God, and the true Messiah, by many signs and 
wonders, was crucified under the government of Pon- 
tius Pilate, died, and by his sufferings and death ato- 
ned for the sins of the world ; that be rose again from 
the dead the third day, ascended into heaven, now 
^its at the right hand of the Father, having all power 
in the kingdoms uf providence &nu of grace put into 
his hands; that he intercedes for men, and especially 
for true Christians ; that he will come again with pow- 
er and great glory, to judge the world in righteousness, 
and assign to all their eternal state and condition.-—' 
And they further believe, that Jesus Christ received 
of the Father the gift of the Holy Ghost, and shed him 
forth abundantly on his immediate followers, both in 
his miraculous and regenerating influences; that he still 
gives this Holy Spirit to them that ask him, to illumi- 
nate, comfort, strengthen^ and sanctify them ; and that 
if we have not the Spirit of Christ we are not Chris- 
tians. 

An analysis of Dr. Coke's sermon "On the Godhead 
of Christ," will give the reader an idea of the opinion 
of the Methodists on that important subject. The text 
is, John i. I. "The Word was God." After an ap- 
propriate and interesting exordium, the Doctor proceeds 
to state. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 149 

1. The several instances that represent our Lord as 
a most extraordinary personage: and first, the many 
signs and presages that he should become such. The 
salutation of his virgin Mother,* — the interview between 
Mary and Elizabeth, — the star that appeared to the wise 
men in the east, — the appearance of the angel to the 
shepherds at Bethlehem, — the anthem there sung by 
the heavenly choir, and the message delivered to Jo- 
seph in a dream, directing him to take the young child 
and his mother, and flee into Egypt. The expecta- 
tions raised by these signs were not disappointed, when 
he entered on his most important sphere of action. — = 
This was manifested by his disputation with the doc- 
tors in the temple; — the descent of the Holy Ghost upon 
him when baptized of John in Jordan, accompanied 
with the voice from heaven, in conjunction with the 
testimony of the Baptist ;— -his fasting, combat with, and 
victory over the devil^in the wilderness : — his speaking 
" as never man spake;" his miracles, by which he 
turned water into wine, drove the multitude out of the 
temple, healed the impotent man at the pool of Be- 
thesda, fed multitudes with a few loaves and fishes, 
whiie more provision was found after they were filled 
Qian when they began to eat: — raised from the dead Ja~ 
rms' daughter, — the widow's son of Nain, and more espe- 
oiaiiy his beloved friend Lazarus. The same proof 
was given, by his restoring sight to the blind, yea, 
such as were born blind 3 ~ by the withering of the fig- 
tree after he had cursed it, — by the obedience which 
the winds and the seas yielded to his commands, — his 
walking on the sea, and many more amazing and be- 
neficent miracles. Other proofs of the dignity and 
importance of his person and mission, may be gathered 
from his transfiguration in the mount ; — the testimony of 
the very devils, that he was the Holy One of God,— 
the miracles which his apostles wrought in and by his 
name, and the various wonders which attended his 
sufferings and death. 

II. Let us proceed to prove by the scripture account^ 
that Christ is God in the highest and fullest sense oi 
the word. We may argue indirectly, by drawing 
plain consequences. He is said to be '* in the form o r 



150 A TRLE AND COMPLETE 

God, and equal with him," Phil. ii. 6. To have " all 
the fulness of the godhead dwelling in him bodily," 
Col. ii. 9. To be " the brightness of his Father's glo- 
ry, and the express image of his person," Heb. i. 3.— • 
To he more particular, let us consider our Saviour, 
1. In respect to the attributes of God. (1.) His eternity. 
He is from everlasting to everlasting, Rev. i. 8, 11, 17. 
xxii. 13. He is " Alpha and Omega, the first and the 
last, who was, and is, and is to come." (2.) He is mn- 
nipotent, Rev. i. 8. Phil. iii. 21. "The Almighty," 
and " able to subdue all things unto himself." (3.) He 
is omniscient, John ii. 24, 25, xxi. 17. xvi. 30. " He 
knew all men," " what was in man," and " all things." 
(4.) He is omnipresent. Matt, xviii. 20. xxviii. 20. " la 
the midst," of " two or three," " wherever gathered to- 
gether," and " with his disciples always, even unto the 
end of the world." He is (5.) immutable, Heb. xiii. 8. 
i. 10, 12. " The same yesterday, to day, and for ever," 
and " his years shall not fail." 

2. All the honours of the Most High are paid to the 
name of Christ, and that whether internal or external. 
And(l.) all internal honours. He is the proper ob- 
ject of faith, John iii. 36. xiv. 1. " Believe in me." " He 
that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting," 
&c. He is the object of " hope," 1 Tim. i. 1 . Of " love,, 
1 Cor. xvi. 22. (2.) Outward acts of worship are paid 
lo him, Luke xxiv. 52. Acts vii. 59. 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9. 
The apostles, and others, 6i worshipped him," Stephen 
said, " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," and Paul " be- 
sought the Lord (Jesus) thrice." " Every knee shall 
bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord," 
Phi!, ii. 10. The angels are commanded to worship 
him, Heb. i. 6. 

3. All the works of the Most High are ascribed to 
him. And, (1.) the work of creation, John i. 3. Col. i. 
14~17. Heb. 1. 3, 10. "All things were made by 
him," he " laid the foundation of the earth, and the 
heavens are the work of his hands." (2,) The preser- 
vation of all things is ascribed to him, Col. i. 1 7. Heb. 
i. 3. " By him ail things consist," and he " upholds all 
things." (3.) Forgiveness of sins is ascribed to him, 
Matt, ixt 6. Luke vii, 4 ; 8, " The Sou of man haib 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 151 

power on earth to forgive sins." " Thy sins are for- 
given thee." (4.) All hi3 miracles were wrought in his 
own name, or by his own immediate power* It was so 
when he healed the Centurion's servant, — Peter's wife's 
mother, — the son of the nobleman of Capernaum, — the 
man at Bethesda's pool, — the man afflicted with the pal- 
sy ? _ the woman who had been long afflicted with the 
issue of blood, — the man with the withered hand, and 
the daughter of the woman of Canaan; and the case 
was the same, when he raised the three different per- 
sons from the dead. See John v. 19. " What things 
soever he (the Father) doth, these also doth tire Son 
likewise." Lastly, the works of grace and regenera- 
tion are attributed to him, Rom. i. 7. " Grace be to you, 
and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Je- 
sus Christ." This is Paul's usual salutation in the be- 
ginning of his epistles. " Without me ye can do no- 
thing," John xv. 5. And the Spirit, by whose opera* 
tions every good is wrought in the soul of man, is fre- 
quently styled, the Spirit of Christ. 

The divinity of Christ may be proved directly, by 
passages of scripture, in which he is called God, or 
Jehovah, or Lord of Hosts ; as well as from the titles 
adjoined to the word God, when applied fo our Saviour, 
so as to restrain the word to its most proper and highest 
signification, and to demonstrate him to be God by na- 
ture, and not by office only. Read Isa. vi. 1, 2, 3. "I 
saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, and his train filled 
the temple," &c. " And they cried, holy, holy, holy 
is tfae Lord of Hosts," &c. And again ver. 5. the 
prophet says, w Mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord 
of Hosts." It is evident from John xii. 41. that these 
words were spoken of our Lord. " These things said 
Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of hint." 

We must not overlook the remarkable declaration 
of our Lord, John viiL 58. Before Abraham was, I 
am : ascribing to himself the incommunicable name of 
the self-existent God. The text says, " The Word was 
God" Thomas said, " my Lord, and my God," John 
xx. 28. " Feed the church of God," said Paul, " which 
ke hath purchased with his own blood," Acts xx. 28,, 
* Christ who is oyer ail, God blessed for ever," Rom. 



153 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

ix. 5. " God manifested in the flesh," 1 Tim. ill 1 6, 
" Hereby perceive we the love of Go d, because he laid 
doAvn his life for us," 1 John iii. lid. Read also Heb> 
L 8. and Psalm xlv. Such titles are adjoined to the 
word God, when applied to our Saviour, as demonstrate 
him to be God by nature, and not by office only. " The 
true God" 1 John v. 20. " The great God," Tit. ii. 13. 
" The mighty God," Isa. ix. 6. « The Lord of Glory," 
1 Cor. ii. 8. " The King of kings, and Lord of lords" 
Rev. xvii. 14. " The everlasting Father," Isa. ix. 6. 

We may well confess, with John, in the words of the 
text, " The Word was God," 

The Creation. 

II. The Methodists believe, that God created thd 
world, visible and invisible, together with angels, men, 
and every thing that is, and hath life. They believe, 
that God made man, with a design that he should know, 
love, and be happy with God for ever; that he made 
man's body out of the dust, and his soul out of nothing, 
after his own image in knowledge and true holiness, 
with power sufficient to have stood, and yet possessed 
of such liberty of choice that he might fall ; that man - 
was placed in the garden of Paradise, and was com- 
manded not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good 
and evil. 

The Fall of Man. 

III. But the Methodists believe, that man transgres- 
sed the commandment of God, and brought on himself 
thereby sin and guilt, pain and death ; and that he 
brought the same evils upon all his posterity ;■■ that all 
men are born in sin, and subject to pain and death.™ 
They believe that man is very far gone from original 
righteousness, and of his own nature inclined "to evil, 
and that continually ? being proud, self-willed, loving 
the world with an idolatrous affection, and at enmity 
with God, not subject to the law of God, nor capable of 
being so, till regenerated by grace. 

In a small treatise on " Original sin, extracted front 
a late author," and published fry Mi\ Wesley, are tire 



^ORTRAiTTRE OP METHODISM. 153 

following propositions. Tfye same sentiment, more 
largely explained, may be found in his 4i Answer to 
Dr. Taylor." 

" God made man upright" By man we are to under- 
stand our first parents, Adam and Eve, the root of all 
mankind. Man was made upright, that is, straight with 
the wHl of God, and without any irregularity in his 
soul. God made him : and in the act of making him, 
made him righteous. With the same breath, he breath- 
ed into him a living and a righteous soul. This righte- 
ousness implied a conformity of all the powers of the 
soul to the law of God. This conformity implied three 
things. First, his understanding was a lamp of light. 
He was made in the image of God, in knowledge as well 
as holiness. He had the knowledge of God's will, and 
also of the works of God. This was proved in his 
giving such names to the various creatures as expressed 
their nature. Secondly, his will lay straight with the 
will of God. In his will was no corruption, or inclina- 
tion to evil. It was disposed by its original make, to 
fellow the Creator's will, as the shadow does the body. 
Thirdly, his affections were regular and holy. All his 
passions, yea all his sensitive motions and inclinations. 
Were ^ordinate to his reason and will, while they lay 
straight with the will of God. And he had power 
answerable to his will, to fulfil the whole will of God. 

Man's original righteousness was universal and natu- 
ral, yet capable of change. 1. It was universal, as the 
subject of it, the whole man. and the object of it, the 
whole law, 2. It was natural to him. This was ne- 
cessary to the perfection of man. 3. It was mutable. 
It might be lost, as appears from the sad event of its 
being lost. See Gen. i. 27. Col. iii. 10. Eph. iv. 24. 
Gen. i. 31. Psalm xxv. 8. And as man was made 
holy, so he was happy. He enjoyed peace, was loved 
by God, and had full communion with him. He was 
also universal Lord over the world, having dominion of 
the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, and the beasts 
of the field, and every thing that moved on the earth. 
He had external tranquillity ; a body beautiful, not ca- 
pable of being injured by the air, nor liable to diseases, 
nor subject to toil and weariness. He was made im- 



154 A TRUE AN© COMPLETE 

mortal. He would never have died if he had not sin- 
ned. Death was threatened only in case of sin, and 
came into the world by sin. But our nature is now en- 
tirely corrupted. Where was no evil, is now no good. 
This may be proved, 1. By God's word. Compare 
Gen. v. ver. 1. with ver. 5. and see Job xiv. 4. John 
iii. 6. Col. ii. 11. 2. Experience proves it. What a 
flood of miseries overflow the world ! Some are oppres- 
sed with poverty ; some are in pain or sickness ; some 
are lamenting their losses; and none without some 
cross : no man's condition is so soft, but there is some 
thorn of uneasiness ; till death comes, sooner or later, 
and sweeps all off the earth. 3. The corruption of na- 
ture is dicovered early in children. What pride, vani- 
ty, self-will, and perverseness ! 4. Behold the bitter 
fruits of corrupt nature ! w The wickedness of man is 
great in the earth" The world is filled with, all man- 
ner of filthiness, unrighteousness and impiety. 5. Since 
Cain shed Abefs blood, the world has been a slaugter- 
house, and on the earth, and in the seas, the greater 
creatures have constantly been devouring the lesser. 
6. Corruption is so strong in man, that human laws are 
necessary, fenced with terrors and severities. 7. Con- 
sider the remains of corruption in believers in Christ 
Jesus, who imperfectly fear, worship, love, and serye 
God. 

Let us add, sin rages the more in man, the more God 
seeks to restrain it; men care more for the body than 
the soul : are generally discontented with the lot as- 
signed them by a good and wise Providence : sinners 
seek after secrecy ; are unwilling to acknowledge their 
sin ; they endeavour to extenuate their guilt, and to 
transfer it to others. To be a little more particular in 
our description of human nature. Man in his natural 
state is altogether corrupt, through all the faculties of 
his soul. 1. The understanding is covered with dark- 
ness in spiritual things. The unrenewed part of 
mankind are rambling through the world, like blind 
men, who will neither take a guide nor can guide them- 
selves, and therefore fall over the precipice into des- 
truction. And the dark mind is averse to spiritual 
light. 2. The will is equally degenerated, It is. averse 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 155 

togood 5 it rebels against light ; and is prone to evil. 
^Trhe affections are disordered, earthly, sensual, and 
devilish. 4. The conscience is blind, sleepy, and defil- 
ed with guilt. 

In the first four volumes of Mr e Wesley's Discourses, 
he has a sermon on " original sin," Gen. vi. 5. In this 
he undertakes to show, 

I. What men were before the deluge. The wicked- 
ness of man was great : not barely a few, or the greater 
part, but of man in general, of men universally . The 
word includes the whole human race. All the imagina- 
tions of the thoughts of his heart, of his soul, were only 
evil, and that continually. There was no good mingled 
with evil, nor light with darkness. All this was con- 
tinually ; every year, day, hour, and moment. 

II. But are men the same now? I answer, 1. The 
scripture gives us no reason to think otherwise of man. 
Above a thousand years after the flood, God said by 
David, " They are all gone out of the way of truth and 
holiness, there is none righteous, no, not cne." And all 
the prophets, in their several generations, bore witness 
to this humbling truth. 2. This account is confirmed 
by daily experience. Every man living, is altogether 
vanity, that is, folly, ignorance, sin, and wickedness. 3. 
Men are without God, or rather atheists in the world. 
4. Were men brought up without any religious instruc- 
tions, they would not (unless grace prevented) have 
any religion at all. 5. As we have no knowledge, so 
we have no love, or fear of God. We are proud, self- 
willed, lovers of the world, seeking happiness in the 
creature, in the pleasures of sense ; and sensual appe- 
tites lead us captive. We are enslaved by the desire of 
the flesh, the desire oftlie eye, and the pride of life. 

III. We may infer, 3. The difference between hea- 
thenism and Christianity. Thy believe that man was 
evil in some things ; but that in some, the good over- 
balanced the evil. 2. The nature of the religion of Je- 
sus Christ. It is God's method of healing a soul .which 

4s thus deceased. 

Salvation only through Christ 

IV. The Methodists believe that man cannot be r§~ 



156 A TRITE ANXX COMPLETE 

stored from his fall, and enjoy pardon, adoption, holi- 
ness, and heaven, but in and through Jesus Christ; 
that through his living, suffering, dying, rising again, 
ascending into heaven, and there ever living to make 
intercession for us, salvation is offered to, and attainable 
by all. They believe that he gave himself a ransom 
for all ; that gospel salvation is sincerely offered to all ; 
that those who are not saved, must eternally blame 
themselves only ; and yet they believe, that we are 
not saved by works of righteousness which we have 
done, but of his own free mercy, by the washing of re- 
generation, and by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, 
and that salvation now, as well as heaven hereafter, is 
the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

In his sermon, entitled, " The Lord our Righteous- 
ness" Jeremiah xxiii. 6. he remarks, " This is. a truth 
which enters deep into the nature of Christianity : the 
Christian church stands or falls with it. It is certainly 
the pillar and ground of that faith, of which alone com- 
eth salvation : of that catholic or universal faith, which 
is found in all the children of God, and which, " unless 
a man keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall 
perish everlastingly." I will endeavour to show, say3 he, 

I. What is the righteousness of Christ. It is either 
his divine or his human righteousness. 1. His divine 
righteousness belongs to his divine nature, as he is He 
that existeth over all, God, blessed for ever : the Supreme, 
the Eternal : " equal with the Father, as touching his 
godhead, though inferior to the Father, as touching his 
manhood." Now this is his eternal, essential, immuta- 
ble holiness, his infinite justice, mercy, and truth : in all 
which he and the Father are one. But I do not appre- 
hend that the divine righteousness of Christ is immedi- 
ately concerned in the present question. Few, if any, 
contend for the imputation' of this righteousness. Who- 
ever believes the doctrine of imputation, understands it 
chiefly, if not solely, of his human righteousness. 2. 
The human righteousness of Christ belongs to him in 
his human nature : as he is the mediator between God and 
man, the man Christ Jesus. This is ei^er internal or 
external. His internal righteousness is the image of 
God, stamped on every power and faculty of his souK 



POUTRAITffRE or METHODISM, 157 

It is a transcript of his divine purity, justice, mercy, 
and love. It includes love, reverence, and resignation 
to his Father; humility, meekness, gentleness ; lovete 
lost mankind, and every other holy and heavenly tem- 
per; and all these in the highest degree, without any 
defect, or mixture of unholiness. It was the least part 
of his external righteousness, that he did nothing amiss, 
knowing no sin, nor having guile found in his mouth. 
This was only negative righteousness. But even his 
outward righteousness was positive too. He did all things 
well. In every word and work, in the whole course of 
his life, he did the will of him that sent him. 3. His 
obedience implied his sufferings also, when he bore our 
sins in his own body on the tree. But, 

II. When is the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, 
and in what sense is it imputed? 1. To all believers^ 
the righteousness of Christ is imputed; to all unbeliev- 
ers it is not. And it is imputed when a man believes, 
as soon as he believes; for faith and the righteousness 
of Christ are inseparable. But, 2. In what sense is the 
righteousness of Christ imputed to us ? In this sense : 
all believers are forgiven and accepted, not for the sake 
of any thing in them, or any thing that ever was, that 
is, or can be done by them, but wholly and solely for 
the sake of what Christ hath done and suffered for them. 
See Tit. iii. 5. We are justified freely by his grace % 
through the redemption thai is in Jesus Christ. And this 
is not only the means of obtaining the favour of God, 
but of our continuing therein. " And this is the doc- 
trine," adds Mr. Wesley, "which I have constantly* 
believed and taught, which I published in 1 738, and ten 
or twelve times since ;" that is, he had published the 
doctrine thus in print : for he was constantly publishing 
it in preaching. The hymns published, and re-publish- 
ed so many times, speak fully to the same purpose 
Take one for all. 

" Jesus, thy blood and righteousness. 
My beauty are, my glorious dress : 
'Midst flaming' worlds in these array'd, 
With joy I shall lift up my head." &c. 

See large hymn-book, page 186, hymn 183. The rea- 
der has here a fair epitome of this interesting discourse , 



IBS A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

The Plan of Salvation. 

V. The Methodists believe, that although salvation- 
is attainable by all, yet that none will be saved, but 
those who comply with the terms of salvation, as ex- 
pressed in the holy scriptures. And they believe, that 
these terms are, 1. Repentance towards God. Sinful 
and guilty man is commanded to repent, and to bring 
forth fruits meet for repentance. This repentance, they 
believe, implies, (1.) A conviction that we have done 
the things we ought not to have done, and left undone 
those things which we ought to have done ; that all we 
like sheep have gone astray, and have turned every one 
to his own way ; that we are guilty before God, and, if 
we die in this state, must be turned into hell. (2.) 
They believe, that repentance includes contrition for 
sin. To true penitents, the remembrance of their sins 
will be grevious, and the burthen intolerable. They 
believe, (3.) That true repentance will produce confes- 
sion of sin. Of this they find many instances in the 
bible. (4.) Above all, they believe, that true repent- 
ance implies reformation, and that all who repent will 
bring forth fruits meet for repentance, by ceasing to do 
evil and learning to do well; that a penitent is humbled, 
hates his sins, and turns from them,' purposing to walk 
4n the way of God's commandments. They believe, 2. 
That in order to be saved, it is absolutely necessary 
that we should have faith : and faith includes, (1.) A 
conviction of those unseen things which God has told 
us in the bible : that a believer receives all those im- 
portant truths contained in " the faith once delivered 
to the saints, called in holy scripture, " the form of sound 
words," "the mystery of faith," and "the faith of the 
gospel :" that to true believers, the gospel has " come, 
not in word only, but also in power," influencing the 
heart and life, "and in the Holy Ghost, and in much 
assurance:" that a true believer is not only persuaded 
of the truth and importance of the gospel, but trembles 
at its threatenings, embraces its promises, and yields 
obedience to its commands. (2.) They believe, the 
principal act of the faith that brings salvation is, to re- 
ceive Jesus Christ in all his mediatorial offices, trusting 



rORTHilTURE Ot METHODISM. 159 

in him, and the promises of God through him, for justi- 
fication, sanctification, and eternal life, according to the 
new covenant. 

One of the first eermons which Mr. Wesley publish- 
ed, he entitled " Salvation by Faith." Eph. ii. 8. Here 
he enquires, 

I. What faith it is through which we are saved. 1 . 
It is not barely the faith of a heathen. God requires a 
heathen to believe That God is, and that he is a reward- 
er of them that diligently seek him. A Greek or Ro- 
man heathen was without excuse, if he did not believe 
the being and attributes of God, a future state of rewards 
and punishments, and the obligatory nature of moral 
virtue. 2. It is not the faith of a devil, though that 
goes much farther than the faith of a heathen. No 
doubt the devil believes not only the being and attri- 
butes of God, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and 
the Saviour of the world ; but also the truth and di- 
vinity of the holy scriptures, Luke iv. 34. James ii. 19. 
Acts xvi. 16 — 18. 3. The faith whereby we are sav- 
ed, is not barely that which the apostles themselves 
had while Jesus was yet upon earth, though they so 
believed on him as to forsake all and follow him , and 
had power to work many miracles. 4. The faith 
whereby we are saved, is, (1.) A faith in Christ; 
Christ, and God through Christ, are the proper objects 
of it. This differs from the faith of a heathen: he be- 
lieves nothing about Christ. (2.) It is distinguished from 
the faith of a devil, as it is not barely speculative, but 
implies a disposition of the heart. " With the heart 
man believeth unto righteousness" "If thou shalt confess 
rvith thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe with 
thy heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou 
shalt be saved" Acts viii. 37. 5. This faith differs from 
that which the apostles had while Christ was upon earth, 
as it acknowledges the necessity and merit of his death, 
and the power of his resurrection. It acknowledges his 
death as the only means of redeeming man from death 
eternal; and his resurrection as the restoration of us all 
to life and immortality : iuasmu#h as he was delivered 
for our sins, and raised again for our justification. It is 
a recumbency upon him, as given for us and living in us ; 



160 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

and in consequence hereof, a closing with him, and 
cleaving to him, as our wisdom righteousness ', sanctified- 
Hon, and redemption. 

II. The salvation which is through this faith, is a 
present salvation, and that from original and actual sin ; 
from past and present sin; from its guilt and power. 
(1 .) From the guilt of past sin. " We are justified free- 
ly by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus 
Christ." (2.) We are saved from the fear that hath 
torment Such believers have peace with God ; the 
witness of the Spirit ; they love God ; and rejoice in 
Lope of his glory. (3.) They are saved from the power 
of sin. " We know that whatsoever is born of God sin- 
neth not : but he that is begotten of God, keepeth him- 
self, and that wicked one toucheth him not," 1 John iv. 
18. 1 John iii. 5. Such a believer sins not by any ha- 
bitual cr reigning sin ; by any wilful sin ; by sinful de- 
sires ; nor by sins of infirmity, whether in act, word, or 
thought. Kis infirmities have not the concurrence of 
his will ; and without this they are not properly sins. 

III. Some objections answered. Some object, 1. 
That preaching salvation by faith, is to preach against 
holiness and good works. This would be true, if we 
spoke of a faith that was separate from these. But, on 
the contrary, we speak of a faith which is necessarily 
productive of all holiness and good works. We do not 
make void the law through faith, but we rather estab- 
lish it; continually enforcing, that all who have be- 
lieved, should be careful to maintain good works. — 
2. This doctrine does not lead men into pride, Rom. 
iii. 27. 3. It gives no just encouragement to sin, but 
the contrary. 4. It will not drive people to despair; 
nor is it an uncomfortable doctrine. 5. It ought to be 
preached as the first doctrine, and to be preached to 
all. 

Mr. Wesley on " The way to the Kingdom" Mark i. 
15. says, the words naturally lead us to consider, 

" I. The nature of true religion, here termed, Tlie 
kingdom of God This kingdom is not meats and drinks, 
Rom. xiv. 17. It does not consist in ritual exercises, 
nor in any outward thing whatsoever. Not in forma 
or ceremonies. Nor in orthodoxy, or right opinions. 



TOUTEAtTURE OF METHODISM, ltil 

What is it then ? Why, (I.) Righteousness. The two 
grand branches of this are love to God and love to 
man, Mark xii. 30. This is the fulfilling of the law. 
(2.) Peace. It is a peace that banishes all doubt and 
painful uncertainty; the Spirit of God bearing witness 
with the spirit of a Christian that he is a child of God. 
And it banishes all fear that hath torment ; the fear 
of the wrath of God, the fear of hell, the devil, and in 
particular, the fear of death : for he that hath the peace 
of God, desires to be with Christ. (3.) Joy in the Ho- 
ly Ghost. Joy wrought in the heart by the holy Spirit 
of God. He rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of 
glory. And this kingdom of God is at hand. It was 
then at hand, Christ being manifest in the flesh ; and 
wherever the gospel is preached, this kingdom is at 
hand. Repent and believe the gospel. 

"II. Repent, and believe the gospel. (1.) Repent. 
Know that corruption of thy heart whereby thou art 
very far gone from original righteousness : that there is 
no soundness in thy soul, but only wounds, and bruises, 
and putrifying sores. Be duly sensible of the sinful- 
ness of thy conduct. Know that the wages of sin is 
death, and that both bodily and eternal. The soul that 
sinneth shall die. And thou canst do nothing to ap- 
pease the wrath of God. Add to this lively conviction 
of thy inward and outward sins, suitable affections : 
sorrow of heart for despised mercies, remorse, fear of 
God's wrath, earnest desire to flee from the wrath to 
come ; cease to do evil, and learn to do well. 2. Be- 
lieve the gospel. The gospel, i. e. good tidings : and 
sometimes it signifies the whole revelation of God by 
Jesus Christ. Believe this. By faith thou attainest 
the promise. But true faith is not a bare assent to the 
truth of the bible, but a sure trust in the mercy of God, 
through Jesus Christ. It is a confidence in a pardon- 
ing God. It is a divine evidence or conviction, that 
God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, 
not imputing their trespasses : arid, in particular, that 
the Son of God hath loved wir, and given himself for 
me; and that I, even I, am now reconciled to God by 
the blood of the cross. 

" Dost thou thus believe ? Then thou hast the peace 
o 2 



162 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

of God. And thou art no longer afraid of hell, or death, 
or the devil ; nor yet painfully afraid of the wrath of 
God : only thou hast a tender reverential fear of of- 
fending him. Dost thou thus believe ? Then thou lov- 
est God : and lovest thy brother also ; and art filled 
with holy and heavenly dispositions. And whilst thou 
foeholdest with open face the glory of the Lord, his 
glorious love, and glorious image, thou art changed 
into the same image, from glory to glory, by the Spirit 
of the Lord." 

Mr. Wesley on " The Scripture Way of Salvation." 
Eph. ii. 8. inquires, 

" I. What is salvation ? And he answers, 1. It does 
Bot here so much signify future salvation, or going to 
heaven, as a present salvation. " Ye are saved by faith," 
And, he observes, the words may be rendered with 
equal propriety, ye have been saved. So that the sal- 
vation here spoken of, might be extended to the entire 
work of God, from the first dawning of grace in the 
soul, till it is consummated in glory. The salvation 
the apostle is here speaking of, consists of two parts, 
justification and sanctification. Justification is another 
word for pardon, the forgiveness of all our sins, and 
(what is necessarily implied therein,) our acceptance 
with God. The price of this, is the blood and right- 
eousness of Christ, or all that he did and suffered for us. 
The immediate effects of justification, are the peace of 
God, and a rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. 

" At the same time that we are justified, yea, that 
very moment sanctification begins. In that instant we 
are born again, born from above, born of the Spirit. — 
There is a real as well as a relative change. We are 
inwardly renewed by the power of God. We feel the 
love of God shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy 
Ghost given unto us, producing love to all mankind, 
more especially to the children of God; expelling the 
love of the world, the love of pleasure, ease, honour, 
or money, together with pride, anger, self-will, and ev- 
ery other evil temper. From the time of our being 
born again, the gradual work of sanctification takes 
place. But, 

" II. What is thbifaith through which we are saved? 



JPORTRAITUKE OE METHODISM* 163 

1. Faith in general is defined by the apostle, Heb. xi. 
1. An evidence, a divine evidence and conviction, (the 
word means both) of things not seen : not visible, not 
perceivable, either by sight, or by any other of the 
external sense*. It implies both a supernatural evidence 
of God and the things of God, a kind of spiritual light 
exhibited to the soul, and a supernatural sight or per- 
ception thereof: accordingly the scripture speaks of 
God sometimes giving light, and sometimes a power of 
discerning it. So St. Paul, " God who commanded 
light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our 
hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the 
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." And else- 
where he speaks of the eyes of our understanding being 
opened. By this two fold operation of the Holy Ghost, 
having the eyes of our soul both opened and enlightened, 
we see the things which the natural eye hath not seen, 
neither the ear heard. 2. Taking the word in a more 
particular sense, faith is an evidence and conviction, 
not only that God was in Christ reconciling the world 
unto himself; but also that Christ loved me, and gave 
himself for me. It is by this faith, (whether we term it 
the essence, or rather a property thereof,) that we re- 
ceive Christ in all his offices, as our prophet, priest, and 
king ; or wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and re- 
demption, 1 Cor. i. 30. He that believeth, with the true 
living faith, hath the witness in himself: The Spirit 
beareth witness with his spirit, that he is a child of God. 
Because he is a son, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his 
Son into his heart, crying, Abba, Fatlier : giving him an 
assurance that he is so, and a child-like confidence in 
him. 3. It is by this faith we are saved, justified, and 
sanctified. But, 

" III. How are we justified and sanctified ? And 1. 
How are Ave justified by faith ? I answer, faith is the 
condition: for none are justified but those who believe. 
And it is the only condition ; for all who believe are 
justified from all things. In other words, no man is 
justified till he believes; but every man who believes 
is justified. It is true, God commands men to repent, 
and bring forth fruits meet for repentance ; and these 
ace both necessary, in some sense, to justification.-" 



164 A THUE AND COMPLETE 

Without these we cannot expect to be justified at all. 
But yet, they are not necessary in the same sense with 
faith. For, repentance and its fruits are only remotely 
necessary ^ necessary in order to faith: whereas faith 
is immediately and directly necessary to justification— 
And they are not necessary in the same degree. For 
these fruits of repentance are only necessary condition- 
ally, if there be time and opportunity for them, other- 
wise a man may be justified without them ; as the thief 
upon the cross. But it is impossible for a man to be 
justified without faith. It remains, that faith is the 
only condition, which is immediately and proximately 
necessary to justification. 2. We are sanctified by 
faith. Exactly as we &re justified by faith, so are we 
also sanctified by faith. Faith is the condition, and 
the only condition of sanctifieation, exactly as it is of 
justification. None is sanctified but he that believes ; 
but every one who believes is sanctified. 

" There is a repentance consequent upon, as well as 
previous to justification. And it is incumbent upon all 
who are justified, to be zealous of good works. Other- 
wise a man cannot expect to be sanctified. He cannot 
grow in grace, in the image of God, in the mind which 
was in Christ Jesus. Nay, without this, he cannot re- 
tain the grace he has received, or continue in faith, or 
the favour of God. Yet neither repentance, nor good 
works, however numerous, will avail to sanctify the 
man ; for he cannot be sanctified till he believes. 

"The faith, whereby we are sanctified, saved from 
sin and perfected in love, is a divine evidence and con- 
viction. (1.) That God hath promised it in the holy 
scriptures. (2.) That he is able to fulfil those promises. 
(3.) That he is willing to do so : and also to do it now. 
To this must be added one thing more ; a divine evi- 
dence and conviction, that he does do it. This sancti- 
fication is wrought both gradually and instantaneously. 
God often destroys sin in a moment, in the twinkling of 
an eye. Look for it, therefore, every moment. And 
should your expectation be disappointed, you lose noth- 
ing ; you are only where you were. But you shall not 
be disappointed. There is an inseparable connexion 
between these three points 5 expect it by faith, expect 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 165 

it as you are, and expect it now. To deny one of them 
is to deny them all : to allow one, is to allow them all." 
I have been the more particular in exhibiting the 
ideas contained in the above sermon, as it was so 
much to the point, and shows so explicitly Mr. Wes- 
ley's views of the plan of salvation, and the general 
views of the Methodists. And it will also render it 
unnecessary for me to insert so much as otherwise I 
might have done, upon some other of the articles, see- 
ing what is here said applies to several of them. I must 
repeat it, that the task I have undertaken, requires that 
I should exhibit the doctrines of Methodism just as they 
are, and this cannot be done in any way so well as by 
constantly appealing to Mr. Wesley's writings. 

Privileges of Believers. 

VI. The Methodists believe, that all who thus repent 
and believe, are, (1.) Justified and have peace with 
God; that we are accounted righteous, only through the 
sacrifice and intercession of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. But although faith, receiving and resting upon 
Christ, is the sole instrument of justification ; yet this 
faith in the justified person " worketh by love," and 
produces inward and outward holiness. They believe, 
(2.) That all persons who are thus justified, are adopted 
into the family of God ; have a right to all the privile- 
ges of his children, and may come boldly to the throne 
of grace ; receiving the Spirit of adoption, they are 
enabled to cry, Abba, Father ; and, as his children, are 
loved, pitied, chastened, protected, and provided for ; 
they are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ ; 
and that continuing in this state they shall inherit all 
the promises, and obtain everlasting life. They be- 
lieve also, (3.) That those who are thus justified and 
made children of God, are assured ef this ; and that 
this blessed assurance arises from " The Spirit of God 
bearing witness with their spirits that they are the chil- 
dren of God." They believe, that no person, under 
the gospel dispensation, is excluded from this privilege, 
except through unbelief, lukewarmness, the love of the 
world, or some other sin. To the enjoyment of this 



166 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

most comfortable privilege, the Methodists believe 
there can be no exception, unless in some extraordina- 
ry cases, occasioned by extreme ignorance, the influ- 
ence of bodily complaints, or the violence of temptation. 
But they believe, that every person possessed of this 
justification, adoption, and witness of the Spirit, hun- 
gers and thirsts after righteousness. 

" The witness of the Spirit" is a subject Mr. Wesley 
has largely considered. Rom. viii. 1 6. " The Spirit it- 
self beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the 
children of God." 

" I. The witness or testimony of our own spirit. He 
desires all those who are for swallowing up the testimony 
of the Spirit of God, in the rational testimony of our own 
spirit, to observe, that in this text the apostle is so far 
From speaking of the testimony of our own spirit only, 
that it may be questioned whether he speaks of it at all : 
whether he does not speak only of the testimony of the 
Spirit of God. It does not appear but that the original 
may be fairly understood thus : the apostle had just said 
in the preceding verse, " Ye have received the Spirit 
of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father," and im- 
mediately subjoins what may be translated, " The same 
Spirit beareth witness to our spirits that we are the 
children of God." The word denotes that he witnesses 
this at the same time he enables us to cry Abba, Father. 
But I contend not, seeing there are so many texts, with 
the experience of all real Christians, which sufficiently 
evince that there is in every believer, both the testi- 
mony of God's Spirit and the testimony of his own, that 
he is a child of God. With regard to the testimony of 
a Christian's own spirit, the foundation of this is laid in 
the numerous texts of scripture, which describe the 
marks of the children of God, and that very plainly.-— 
And these are collected together and placed in the 
strongest light, by many, both ancient and modern 
writers. This may be still further aided by the minis- 
try of the word, meditation, and religious conversation. 
And every man using the understanding which God has 
given him, and which religion was designed to improve, 
by applying those scripture marks to himself, may 
know whether he is a child of God, For instance, 1 



Portraiture of Methodism. 167 

John ii. 3, 5, 29.— iii. 4, 19, 24.— iv. 13.— v. 18. Pro 
bably from the beginning of the world, none of the chil- 
dren of God were ever farther advanced in the grace of 
-God, and the knowledge of Christ, than the apostle 
John, and those to whom he wrote at that time. Yet they 
did not despise these marks of being God's children; 
but applied them to their own souls, for the confirmation 
of their faith. Yet all this testimony is no other than 
rational ; the witness of our own spirit, our reason or un- 
derstanding. It all resolves into this ; those who have 
these marks, they are God's children, but we have these 
marks ; therefore we are his children. But how does it 
appear that we have these marks, that we love God and 
our neighbour, and that we keep God's commandments ? 
The question does not mean, how does it appear to oth- 
ers, but to ourselves. As easily as you can know whether 
you are alive, in pain or in ease, may you know wheth- 
er you are saved from proud wrath, and have the ease 
of a meek and quiet spirit ; whether you love your 
neighbour as yourselves; whether you are kindly affec- 
tioned, gentle and long-suffering; whether you out- 
wardly keep God's commandments by living godly, 
righteous and sober lives. This is properly the testi- 
mony of our own spirit. It is a consciousness of our 
having received, in and by the spirit of adoption, the 
tempers mentioned in the word of God as belonging to 
his adopted children. 

" But what is the testimony of God's Spirit which is 
superadded to, and conjoined with this ? how does he 
bear witness with our spirit that we are the children of 
God? It is hard to find words in the language of men 
to explain the deep things of God. But, perhaps one 
might say, the testimony of the Spirit is an inward im- 
pression on the soul, whereby the Spirit of God di- 
rectly witnesses to my spirit, that I am a child of God : 
that Jesus hath loved me, and given himself for me ; 
that all my sins are blotted out, and I, even I, am re- 
conciled to God. 

" This testimony of the Spirit of God must, in the very 
nature of things, go before the testimony of our own 
spirit. We must be holy in heart and life, before we 
can be conscious that we are so. But we must love 
God before we can be holy at all; this being the root 



168 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

of all holiness. Now we cannot love God, till we know 
he loves us. And we cannot know his pardoning love 
to us, till his Spirit witness it to our spirit. Since, 
therefore, this testimony of his Spirit must precede the 
love of God and all holiness, of consequence, it must 
precede our inward consciousness thereof, or the testi- 
mony of our own spirit concerning them. We may 
explain this matter a little farther. 

" He that loves God, and delights and rejoices in him, 
with an humble joy, a holy delight, and an obedient 
love, is a child of God; but I thus love, delight, and re- 
joice in God : therefore I am a child of God : then a 
Christian cannot doubt of his being a child of God ; of 
the former proposition he has as full assurance, as he has 
that the scriptures are of God; and of his thus loving 
God, he has an inward proof which is nothing short of 
self-evident. 

" The manner how the divine testimony is manifest- 
ed to the heart, I do not take upon me to explain, see 
John iii* 8. But we know the fact, namely, that the 
Spirit of God gives a believer such a testimony of his 
adoption, that while it is present to the soul, he can no 
more doubt the reality of his sonship, than he can doubt 
of the shining of the sun, while he stands in the full 
blaze of heaven. But, 

" II. How may this joint testimony of God's Spirit 
and of our own spirit be clearly distinguished from pre- 
sumption of mind, and the delusions of Satan? 1. To 
distinguish it from the presumption of a natural mind, 
(1.) The holy scriptures abound with marks, distinguish- 
ing the one from the other. They describe repentance, 
as constantly going before this witness of pardon, Matt, 
iii. 2. Mark i. 15. Actsii. 38. Acts iii. 10. Again, 
(2.) The scriptures describe the being born of God, 
which must precede the witness that we are his chil- 
dren, as a change, no less than from darkness to light, 
as well as from the power of Satan unto God, Acts 
xxvi. 18. Col. i. 12. Eph. ii. 1—6. And, (3.) The 
scriptures describe the joy accompanying the witness 
of the Spirit, as tending to promote humility. In the 
presumptuous, deceived man, it is the contrary. In- 
stead of being humble, meek, gentle, teachable, slow to 



POKTRATTTTKE OF METHODISM. 169 

hear, and slow to wrath, he is haughty, assuming, slow to 
hear, and swift to speak, fiery, vehement, and eager in 
his conversation : yea, sometimes there is a fierceness 
in his air and manner of speaking, as well as his whole 
deportment, as if he were going to take the matter out 
of God's hands, and himself to devour his adversaries, 
(4.) The scriptures teach, this is the love of God, (the 
sure mark thereof) that we keep his commandments, see 
John xiv. 21. The genuine lover of God will do his 
will. But with the presumptuous pretender to the love 
of God, it is otherwise. He is not zealous, watchful 
over his tongue and heart, nor anxious to deny himself, 
or take up his cross. It follows from undeniable evi- 
dence, that he cannot have the true testimony of his 
own spirit. He cannot be conscious of having those 
marks which he has not, nor can the Spirit of God bear 
witness to a lie ; or testify that he is a child of God, 
when he is manifestly a child of the devil. 

"III. What is the witness of the Spirit? The original 
word may be rendered, either the witness, or (less ambig- 
uously,) the testimony, or the record, 1 lohn v 11. I do 
not mean to say, that the Spirit of God testifies this by 
an outward voice; no, nor always by an inward voice, 
although he may do this sometimes. Neither do I sup- 
pose, that he always applies some scripture to the heart, 
though he often may do this. Eut he so works upon 
the soul, by his immediate influence, and by a strong, 
though inexplicable operation, that ihe stormy winds 
and troubled waves subside, and there is a sweet calm : 
the heart resting in the arms of Jesus, and the sinnei? 
being clearly satisfied, that God is reconciled, and that 
all his iniquities are for riven, and his sins covered. That 
there is a testimony of the Spirit is acknowledged by 
all parties. And it is not questioned whether there is 
an indirect witness or testimony, that we are the chil- 
dren of God. This is nearly, if not exactly, the same 
with the testimony of a good conscience towards God. 
Nor do we assert, that there can be any real testimony 
of the Spirit, without the fruit of the Spirit. We assert 
on the contrary, that the fruit of the Spirit immediately 
springs from this testimony. But the point in question 
is, whether there be any direct testimony of the Spirit 

p 



170 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

at all ? whether there be any other testimony of the Spi- 
rit than that which arises from a consciousness of the 
fruit. I believe there is. 

" IV. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spi- 
rit that we are the children of God." It is manifest 
that there are two witnesses mentioned ; who together 
testify the same thing, the Spirit of God, and our own 
spirit. But what is the witness of the Spirit ? See the 
verse before the text, and Gal. iv. 6. And experience 
agrees with the scripture testimonies. It has been con- 
firmed by a cloud of living and dying witnesses. It is 
confirmed by the experience of many at the present 
day. And it is sanctioned by this additional considera- 
tion, that all those who are awakened out of the sleep 
of sin, cannot be satisfied with any thing short of the di- 
rect witness of God's Spirit that they are pardoned." 

I have been the larger in this outline, because it is on 
a subject which distinguishes the Methodists. 

Respecting " The fruits of the Spirit," Mr. Wesley's 
sentiments may be learnt from a sermon he preached 
before the University of Oxford, August 24, 1 744, on 
Acts iv. 31. " And they were all filled with the Holy 
Ghost." He says, whether the extraordinary gifts of 
the Holy Ghost, such as the speaking with other tongues ', 
the gifts of healing, of miracles, prophecy, and of the dis- 
cernment of spirits, were designed to remain in the 
church through all ages, and whether or no they will 
be restored at the nearer approach of the restitution of all 
things, are questions which it is not needful to decide. 
Even then they were divided with a sparing hand. — 
Were all workers of miracles? Had all the gifts of heal- 
ing; Did all speak with tongues ? No-: perhaps not one 
In a thousand. None but teachers in the church, and 
only some of them. It was therefore for a more excel- 
lent purpose than this, that they were all filled with the 
Holy Ghost. It was to give them, (what none can de- 
ny to be essential to Christianity in all ages,) the mind 
which was in Christ, those holy fruits of the Spirit, 
which whosoever hath not is none of his: to fill them 
with love, joy, peace, long-siiffering, gentleness, goodness : 
to endue them with faith, (perhaps it might be render- 
ad, fidelity) with meekness and temperance, to enable 




PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 171 

them to crucify thefksh with its affections and lusts, its 
passions and desires: and in consequence of that inward 
change, to fulfil all outward righteousness, to walk as 
Christ also walked, in the work of faith, the patience of 
hope, and the labour of love. 

In another sermon by Mr. Wesley, on Rom, viii. 1- 
he inqures, Who are they that are in Christ Jesus ? (1.) 
Those who believe in him ; who have not on their own 
righteousness, but the righteousness which is by faith ; 
who have redemption through the blood of Christ; who 
dwell in Christ, and have Christ to dwell in them; 
who are joined to the Lord in one spirit. Consequent- 
ly, (2.) They walk not after the flesh. The flesh in 
the usual language of St. Paul, signifies corrupt nature, 
Gal. v. 10, 19. (3.) Who arc in Christ, who abide in 
him, and have crucified the flesh with its affections and 
lusts. They abstain from the Avorks of the flesh ; from 
adultery and fornication, from imcleanness and lascivious- 
ness ; from idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, and variance^ 
from emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envying s, 
murders, drunkenness, revellings : and from every de- 
sign, word, and work, to which the corruption of nature 
leads. (4.) They now walk after the Spirit, both in 
their hearts and lives. They are taught by the Spirit 
to love God and their neighbour : and are led by him 
into every holy desire, and every holy and heavenly 
temper, till their hearts are purified from all unholiness. 
(5.) They who walk after the Spirit, are also led by him 
into all holiness of conversation. Their speech is al- 
ways in grace, seasoned with salt, with the love and feat 
of God. No corrupt communication comes out of their 
mouth, but only tliat which is good; that which is to the 
use of edifying, which is meet to minister grace unto tht 
hearers. They who indeed walk after the Spirit, (6.) 
show forth in the whole course of their lives the genu- 
me fruits of the Spirit, namely, love, joy, peace, lo?ig~ 
suffering, gentleness, goodness, fidelity, meekness, tempe- * 
ranee, and whatsoever is lovely or of good report.— 
They " adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 
things," 



172 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

The New Birth, Sanctification, and Good Works. 

VII. The Methodists believe that the will of God fe 
our sanctifi cation, and that the design of Christ in our 
redemption is universal holiness. This section will 
include The new birth, sanctification, and good works. 

1. The new birth is that internal change of heart 
which is produced in all those who are justified and 
■adopted into the family of God. Justification is a rela* 
live, but this is a real change ; justification is a change 
of state, but thi3 is a change of nature. By justification 
the guilty is forgiven : but by regeneration a new heart 
is given to him, and he becomes a new creature in Christ 
Jesus. This change extends to all the powers of the 
soul, illuminating the understanding, ittbje&tisg ih~ 
will to the will of God, regulating the passions, and 
sanctifying the affections. In short, the person who 
experiences this change is properly termed in scripture 
A NEW MAN, in consequence of his being " born 
again" and " walking in newness of life" And as God 
is the author of this important change, and effects it by 
his Holy Spirit, the regenerate are said in scripture to 
be born of God »*$*! ivm C* the Spirit. And inasmuch 
&s the Wor d cf God and faith therein are the instrumen- 
tal causes of it, the regenerate are described as " born 
again of incorruptible seed by the word of God," as 
"the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Since 
the baptism of water is at least an emblem, and some- 
limes a mean of those divine influences whereby this 
change is produced, believers are said to be born of 
water as well as of the Spirit, and to be saved by tlie 
washing of regeneration, as well as by the renewing of the 
Holy Ghost. 

The substance of Mr. Wesley's sermon on " The 
New Birth," very properly comes in here. The text is, 
John iii. 7. " Ye must be born again." He makes three 
principal inquiries, i. e. 

1. Why must we be born again ? Why, because, 1. 
Though man was made in the image of God, he was 
not made immutable. This would have been inconsis- 
tent with that state of trial in which God was pleased 
to place him. He was created with an ability to stand. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 173 

and yet liable to fall. 2. From this high and holy state 
he fell. He eat of the tree whereof the Lord had com- 
mantled. Thou shalt not eat thereof. By this act of diso- 
bedience, he openly declared he would no longer have 
God to rule over him, but that he would be governed by 
his own will. God had told him In the day thou eatest 
of that fruit thou skalt surely die* Accordingly, in that 
day he died to God, losing the life of God, and was 
separated from him, in union with whom his spiritual 
life consisted. The body dies when it is separated 
from the soul : the soul dies when it is separated from 
God. But this separation Adam sustained in the day, 
the hour he eat of the forbidden fruit. And of this he 
gave immediate proof. The love of God was gone* 
and servile fear succeeded it. He fled from the pre- 
sence of the Lord. And so little knowledge of God 
did he retain, that he imagined he could hide himself 
from him who fills heaven and earth, among the trees 
of the garden. So had he lost both the knowledge and 
the love of God, without which the image of God could 
not subsist. Of this, therefore, he was deprived at the 
same time, and became unholy as well as unhappy. In 
the room of this he sunk into pride and sell- will, the 
very image of the devil, and into sensual appetites and 
desires, the image of the beasts that perish. The death 
that God threatened Adam with, could not so properly 
be the death of the body, for he did not die thai day? 
but lived above nine hundred years after. It must be 
understood of spiritual death, the loss of the life and 
image of God. And in Adam all died, ail the children 
of men who were then in Adams loins. The natural 
consequence is, that every one descended from him, 
comes into the world spiritually dead, dead to God, 
wholly dead in sin : void of all the life and image of 
God. Instead of the righteousness and true holiness^ 
wherein Adam was created, every man born into the 
world bears the image of the devil, in pride and self- 
will, the image of the beast, in sensual appetites and 
desires. This entire corruption of human nature then 
is the foundation of the new birth. 

II. What is the nature of the new birth ? We are not 
to expect any minute, philosophical account of the 



17* A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

manner of this. This our Saviour told Nicodemus, 
when he said, " Tlie wind bloweth where it listrfh, and 
thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it 
coineth, neither whither it goeth" Thou art absolutely 
assured, beyond all doubt, that it doth blow ; but the 
precise manner how it begins and ends, rises and talis, 
no man can tell. So is every one that is born of the Spirit. 
Thou mayest be as absolutely assured of the fact, as of 
the blowing of the wind; but the precise manner how 
it is done, how the Holy Spirit works this in the soul, 
neither thou nor the wisest of the children of men are 
able to explain. 

The expression being born again, was not first used 
hy our Lord. It was in common use among the Jews 
at that time. When an adult Heathen was convinced 
that the Jewish religion was of God, and wanted to 
join therein, it was the custom to baptize him first, bo- 
fore he was admitted to circumcision. And when he 
was baptized, he was said to be born again : by which 
they meant, that he, who was before a child of the 
devil, was now adopted into the family of God, and ac- 
counted one of his children. A man's being spiritually 
(torn again, bears a near analogy to the natural birth. 
Before a child is born it has eyes, but does not see : 
and ears, but it does not hear. It has a very imperfect 
use of any other sense. It has no knowledge of any 
thing, nor any understanding. To that existence we 
do not even give the name of life. It is only when a 
child is born that it begins to live. He then begins to 
see the light, and the various objects which surround 
him. His ears are opened, and he hears sounds. And 
all the other senses begin to be exercised upon their 
proper objects. And he breathes and lives in a man- 
ner very different from what he did before. In like 
raanner, before a man is born of God, he has eyes, but 
in a spiritual sense, does not see. Hence he has no 
knowledge of God, or the things of God, either of spirit- 
ual or eternal things. But, when he is born of God, 
the. eyes of his understanding are opened. He sees the 
light of the knowledge of the glory of God. His ears are 
&ow opened, and he hears the voice of God. He is 
spr&scious of a |>eace that passeth understanding? and 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, ±7£ 

feels a joy unspeakable and full of glory. He feels the 
love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost 
which is given unto him. And all his spiritual senses 
are exercised to discern spiritual good and evil. Now 
he may be properly said to live : God having quickened 
him by his Spirit, he is alive to God through Jesus 
Christ. He lives a life which is hid with Christ in 
God; God breathes grace into the soul, and the soul 
breathes prayer and praise to God; and he thus grows 
up, till he comes to thefuhicss of the stature of Christ. 
This is the nature of the new birth. 

III. To what ends is it necessary that we should be 
born again? It is necessary, 1. In order to holiness. 
Gospel-holiness is no less than the image of God stamp- 
ed upon the heart. But this cannot be in the soul, till 
we are born again. The new-birth, therefore, is ne- 
cessary in order to holiness. But, 2. Without holiness 
no man shall see the Lord ; without this, no man shall 
see the face of God in glory. Of consequence, the new 
birth is absolutely necessary in order to obtain eternal 
salvation. 3. Except a man be born again, he can- 
not be happy even in this world. It is not possible 
that a man should be happy without being holy.— 
All unholy tempers are uneasy tempers. Not only 
malice, hatred, envy, jealousy and revenge, create a 
present hell in the breast, but even the softer passions, 
if not kept within due bounds, give a thousand times 
more pain than pleasure. All those general sources of 
sin, pride, self-will, and idolatry, are in the same pro- 
portion as they prevail, general sources of misery.-— 
Therefore as long as any of these reign in any soul, 
happiness has no place there. But they must reign, till 
our nature is changed by being born again. Conse- 
quently, the new birth is necessary in order to happi- 
ness in this world, as well as in the world to eome. 

IV. I will subjoin a few natural inferences. 1. I* 
follows, that baptism is not the new birth ; these are not, 
as many suppose, one and the same thing. Many 
speak as if they thought so, though I do not know 
that any denomination of Christians publicly avow it. 
2. The new birth does not always accompany baptism* 
A man may possibly be born of water, and yet not be 



176 A TllUE AND COMPLETE 

born of the spirit The tree is known by its fruits. And 
in many instances,, we know that adult persons have 
been baptized, and as they were the children of the 
devil before, so they continued so afterwards. 3. The 
new birth is not the same as sanctification. It is a 
part of sanctification, but not the whole ; it is the gate 
of it, and the entrance into it. Our inward and out- 
ward holiness then begins. And we must grow up in- 
to him who is our head. See the exactness of the anal- 
ogy. A child is born in a moment, at least in a short 
time. But he gradually grows up in manhood. So a 
child of God is born in a short time, and grows to spir- 
itual maturity. 4. You must be born again, though 
you have been baptized, or not baptized, otherwise you 
cannot be holy : though ever so harmless ; though you 
do good, and attend public worship ever so constantly. 

2. Sanctification as distinguished from the new birth y 
is the progress and completion of that divine change 
which is begun in regeneration. It includes, not only 
a separation from, or deadness to the world and sin, 
a dedication and consecration of the whole man, spi- 
rit, soul, and body, to God and his service, but is al- 
so a conformity to his image, and a participation of the 
divine nature. The causes and means of this sanctifi- 
cation, are the same with those by which the new- 
birth is produced: The " God of peace himself sancti- 
fies us," by giving us his holy and sanctifying Spirit. 
His word of truth is one principal instrument in effect- 
ing this good work, and our faith and obedience is 
another. Be sanctifies us by his truth, purifies our hearts 
by faith, while we purify our souls by obeying the truth. 
And as all this is through the merits and mediation of 
Jesus Christ, " our old man" is said to be " crucified 
with him," we are " crucified to the world, and the 
world to us," and are " sanctified unto God by his 
blood," till we at last receive an inheritance among 
ihose who are sanctified by faith that is in him." — Let 
me add, the Methodists believe, we may love God with 
all our hearts, and be delivered from the hands of all 
our spiritual enemies so completely, that we may serve 
God without fear, in righteousness and holiness all the 
days of our life ; yea, that we may rejoice evermore, 
pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanjts* 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. ±77 

It will be impossible to do justice to the subject of 
sanctification, without once more having recourse to 
Mr. Wesley's sermons, especially as the Methodists are 
particularly distinguished upon this point. One sermon 
of his, on Rom. ii. 29. is entitled, " The Circumcision of 
the HcarV He inquires, wherein does this circumci- 
sion consist? 1. in general, it is an habitual, holy dis- 
position of soul, which implies, being cleansed from all 
filthlness both ol flesh and spirit; having the mind that 
was in Christ ; and the image of God. 2. More par- 
ticularly, it implies humility, faith, hope, and charity. 
Those who have this circumcision of heart, will love 
God and their brother also. 

There is another sermon of his, on Phil. iii. 12. en- 
titled, " Christian Perfection" In this he endeavours 
to show, 

I. In what sense Christians are not perfect. 1. They 
are not petfet in knowledge. They know many things; 
but there arem-mv others which they do not know.-— * 
They cannot fully comprehend how God is one in three 
and three in one; how Jesus took upon himself the 
form of a servant; they know not the times and seasons 
when God will work his great works upon earth ; much 
less when " the heavens shall pass away with a great 
noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." 
In many resnects, they know not the reasons of God's 
dispensations to many of the children of men. 2. No 
one is so perfect in this life as to be free from ignorance, 
or from sometimes making mistakes. The children of 
God do not mistake as to the things essential to salva- 
tion. But in matters unessential they err frequently. 
They may mistake as to facts themselves, believing a 
thing to have been or not to have been, when the fact 
has been the reverse. Or, they may be mistaken as to 
circumstances belonging to facts. Nay, even respecting 
the holy scriptures, good men may, and often do, make 
mistakes, especially with regard to those parts which 
do not immediately relate to practice 3. Christians 
are not so perfect as to be free from infirmities. I do 
not mean sins. But, not onry such as are truly bodily 
infirmities, but all such infirmities, outward or inward* 



178 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

as are not of a moral nature : slowness of understand- 
ing, dulness or confusedness of apprehension, incohe- 
rency of thought, or irregular quickness or heaviness of 
imagination ; or a bad memory, feuch are those which 
partly flow from these, namely, slowness or impropriety 
of speech ; and a thousand nameless defects, either in 
eon venation or behaviour. 4. Nor can we expect to be 
wholly free from temptation while in this life. It may 
be so for a time ; but temptation will return. Even the 
Son of God himself was tempted, and that to the end 
©f his life. But, 

II. In what are Christians perfect ? Rut observe, 
there are several stages in the Christian life ; some are 
new-born babes, while others have attained to greater 
maturity. See 1 John ii. 12, &e. I speak at present 
chieSy to fathers in Christ. 1. All real Christians are 
so perfect as not to live in outward sin. Rom. vi. 1, 2« 
5, 6, 7, 11, 14, 18. 1 Pet. iv. 1, 2. 1 John iii. 8, 18. 
" He that committeth sin is of the devil." And this 
privilege is common to all Christians. But, 2. Those 
who have overcome the wicked one, and are strong in 
the Lord, are free from sinful thoughts. But a thought 
concerning sin, and a sinful thought, are widely differ- 
ent. A man may think of a murder, which another 
has committed, and yet this is no sinful thought. 3. 
They are free from sinful tempers. 1 John iii. 3. — 
Thus does God circuniGise the hearts of his people, ac- 
cording to his promise. Deut. xxx. 6. Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 
&c. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved 
brethren, "let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of 
flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 

3. Good works, are only such works as God has com- 
manded in his holy word, and not such as without any 
authority or countenance from the scripture, are cte vi- 
sed by men out of Wind zeal, or on a pretence of good in- 
tention. These good works done in obedience to God's 
commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true 
and lively faith, insomuch that a true and lively faith 
may be as evidently known by them as a tree is dis- 
cerned by its fruits. By these true Christians manifest 
their thankfulness, increase their confidence, edify their 
brethren, adorn their profession, stop the mouths of ad v 






PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, ±79 

versaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they 
are, " created in Christ Jesus, unto these good works." 
But, be it remembered, that works of man's devising, or 
works done besides, or over, and above God's command- 
ments, which the papists call Works of Supererogation* 
cannot be taught without impiety and arrogance. By 
these men seem to declare, that they not only do their 
duty, but that they do more than they are required to 
do. Whereas our Saviour positively says, "When 
you have done all that is commanded you, say, We are 
unprofitable servants." Our good works can neither 
profit God, nor make any satisfaction for our former 
sins. Nevertheless, the good works of true believers, 
being wrought through his Spirit, will be accepted 
through him, and find a gracious and abundant reward. 

The Bible the only Rule of Faith and Practice. 

VIII. The Methodists believe, that in all the fore- 
going articles, they have drawn their opinions from the 
word of God, which they have declared to be "The 
only and sufficient rule, both of their faith and prac* 
tice." They believe, that the scriptures of the Old 
and New Testaments contain all things necessary to 
salvation : so that whatsoever is not found therein, or 
cannot be proved thereby, 01 ght not to be imposed 
upon any man as an article of faith, nor be thought ne> 
cessary to salvation. By the word of God, or holy 
scriptures, the Methodists understand those divinely 
inspired canonical books of the Old and New Testa- 
ment, the authority of which has been acknowledged 
by the church of God in all ages. The names of these 
books are, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deu- 
teronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, the first and second 
Books of Samuel, the first and second Books of Kings, 
the first and second Books of Chronicles, the Book of 
Ezra, the Book of Nehemiah, the Book of Esther, the 
Book of Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs of Solomon, 
Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher, the Canticles, or Song 
of Solomon, the four greater, and the twelve lesser 
Prophets; and all the Books of the New Testament, as 
commonly printed and received, They believe that 



180 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

all and each of these several parts of the sacred volume^ 
were written by the men to whom they are ascribed, 
under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. The Old 
Testament is not contrary to the New ; but in both 
these Testaments, life everlasting is offered to mankind 
by Christ, who is the only mediator between God and 
man. For although the law given by Moses, as touch- 
ing ceremonies, is not binding upon Christians ; yet 
all Christians ought to obey those commandments 
which are called moral. 

Sundry Controverted Doctrines. 

IX. The Methodists believe, touching sundry points 
@f doctrine, which have been much controverted i$ 
the church of Christ as follows: — That is to say, 

1. They do not admit the doctrines of absolute* un- 
conditional election and reprobation, but believe them 
to be unscriptural ; forasmuch as God hath declared in 
his word, that he is " loving to every man,' 5 and " his 
tender mercies are over all his works :" that " he will- 
eth not the death of a sinner," is " not willing that 
any should perish; but that all should come to repen- 
tance ;" and that " he willeth all men to be saved, and 
come to the knowledge of the truth." They believe 
that what is termed predestination, is conditional, and 
founded on God's foreknowledge, according to what is 
said by the apostles Paul and Peter; the former of 
whom says, " Whom he did foreknow, them he did 
predestinate :" i. e. define or describe before hand, to 
be conformed to the image of his Son :" that is, those 
whom he foreknew as repenting of sin, and as believ- 
ing on the Messiah, he did describe in the writings of 
the ancient prophets, as persons who should resemble 
him, whose disciples they should be ; and that both in 
heart and life, as well drinking into his spirit, as copy- 
ing his example. Thus with regard to election ; as 
God chooses or elects men " to salvation through sanctifi- 
cation of the Spirit and belief of the truth, to which he 
calls them by the gospel;" so those whom he fore- 
knows as obeying this call, are termed by Peter, 
* Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the 



PORTRAITURE 0* METHODISM. 181 

Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obe- 
dience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.'* 
That all who are called even by the gospel, do not 
obey this call, or do not persevere so to do, is certain, 
because our Lord assures us, Many arc called, both to 
the marriage feast, provided in the gospel, and to work 
in the vineyard, said few chosen. It is, therefore, the 
duty of all believers, even of such as have precious 
faith, (2 Pet. i. 10, 11.) to make their calling and elec- 
tion sure, by adding to their faith virtue, knowledge, 
temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness., 
and charity. On the other hand, those who do not do 
this, and therefore lack these graces, are the real re- 
probates, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. and if nevertheless, they think 
themselves God's elect, " are blind, and cannot see 
afar off;" while those in whom these graces are, and 
with whom they continue and " abound, shall never 
fall : but an entrance shall be ministered unto them 
into God's eternal kingdom." 

In a pamphlet, entitled " Serious considerations on 
Absolute Predestination," published by Mr. Wesley, 
are the following observations : — 

1. God delighteth not in the death of a sinner, but 
that all should live and be saved, and hath given his 
Son, that all who believe on him should be saved. He 
is the true light which lighteth every man which Com- 
eth into the world. And this light would work out the 
salvation of all, if not resisted. 

2. But some assert, that God by an eternal and un- 
changeable decree, hath predestinated to eternal dam- 
nation the far greater part of mankind, and that abso- 
lutely, without any regard to their works, but only for 
the showing the glory of his justice; and that for the 
bringing this about, be hath appointed miserable souls 
necessarily to walk in their wicked ways, that so his 
justice may lay hold on them, &c. &c. 

3. This doctrine is novel. In the first four hundred 
years after Christ, no mention is made of it by any wai- 
ter, great or small, in any part of the Christian church. 
The foundations of it were laid in the latter writings of 
Augustine, when unguardedly writing against Pelagius-, 
It was afterwards taught by Dominicus, a popish friar. 



182 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

and the monks of his order, and at last, it was unhappily 
taken up by John Calvin. This doctrine, is, First, in- 
jurious to God, because it makes him the author of all sin. 
Secondly, It is injurious to God, because it represents 
him as delighting in the death of sinners, expressly con- 
trary to his own declaration, Ezek. xxxiii. 11. 1 Tim. 
ii. 4. Thirdly, This doctrine is highly injurious to 
Christ, our mediator, and to the efficacy and excellency 
of his gospel. It supposes his mediation to be necessa- 
rily of no effect with regard to the greater part of man- 
kind. Fourthly, The preaching of the gospel is a mere 
mockery and delusion, if many of those to whom it is 
preached, are by an irrevocable decree shut out from 
being benefited by it. Fifthly, this doctrine makes 
the coming of Christ, and his sacrifice upon the cross, 
instead of being a fruit of God's love to the world, to 
be one of the severest acts of God's indignation against 
mankind : it being only ordained (according to this 
doctrine) to save a very few, and for the hardening 
and increasing the damnation of the far greater number 
of mankind : namely, all those who do not believe : and 
the cause of this unbelief, according to this doctrine, is 
the council and decree of God. Sixthly, This doc- 
trine is highly injurious to mankind ; for it puts tjiem 
in a far worse condition than the devils in hell. For 
these were some time in a capacity to have stood. — 
They might have kept their happy estate, but would 
not. Whereas, according to this doctrine, many mil- 
lions of men are tormented for ever, who never were 
happy, never could be, and never can be. Again, de- 
vils will not be punished for neglecting a great salva- 
tion ; but human creatures will. In direct opposition 
to this, we affirm, that God willeth ail to be saved; 
and hath given his only begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth on him might be saved. There is hardly any 
other article of the Christian faith, so frequently, 
plainly, and positively asserted. It is that which makes 
the preaching of the gospel " Glad tidings to all," Luke 
ii. 10. Otherwise, had this salvation been absolutely 
confined to a few, it had been " Sad tidings of great 
sorrow to most people." Read Col. i. 28. 1 Tim. ii. 
1—6. Heb. ii. 9. John iii. 17,— xii. 47. 2 Pet. ii. 



PORTRAITURE OE METHODISM. 183 

3, 9. Ezek. xxxiii. 11. 1 John ii. 1, 2. Ps. xvii. 14. 
Isa. xiii. 11. Matt, xviii. 7. John vii. 7.- — viii. 26. — 
xii. 19. — xiv. 17. — xv. 18, 19. — xviii. 20. 1 Cor. i. 
21. — ii. 12.— vi. 2. Gal. vi. 14. James i. 27. 2 Pet. 
ii. 20. 1 John ii. 15. ili- 1. — iv. -4, 5. 

Any one who desires further information upon this 
subject, may read, " Predestination calmly consider- 
ed," and the " Scripture Doctrine of Election and Re- 
probation," by Mr. Wesley, together with Mr. Fletch- 
er's " Checks to Antinomianism," where this subject 
is treated with the pen of a scribe well instructed. 

2. They believe the doctrine of general redemption, 
to be as explicitly declared in the holy scriptures, as 
that of Gcd's universal love. For as " God so loved 
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that 
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 
everlasting life ;" as " he sent not his Son into the 
world to condemn the world, but that the world through 
him might be saved;" so we are expressly assured, 
"that Christ is the Saviour of all men, especially of 
those that believe :" that " he gave himself a ransom 
for all, to be testified in due time ;" that " when all 
were dead, he died for all ;" and " by the grace of 
God, tasted death for every man." We are persuaded, 
therefore, with John, that he is the propitiation, not 
for our sins only," (the sins of such as now believe, have 
believed, or shall believe hereafter,) " but for the sins 
of the whole world," not excluding even such as final- 
ly perish. For as Peter speaks of some, as " denying 
the Lord that bought them and bringing on themselves 
swift destruction :" so Paul signifies, that we may " de- 
stroy with our meat," or with an improper use of our 
Christian liberty, "those for whom Christ died:" and 
thus " the weak brother for whom Christ died, being 
made to stumble and fall, may "perish." 

3. The Methodists believe, That even the regene- 
rate may and often do fall from grace both totally and 
finally. The apostle Paul mentions some who, having 
" put away faith and a good conscience, concerning 
faith had made shipwreck," and expressly mentions 
Hymeneus, Philetus, and Alexander, of that number, 
1 Tim. 20. 2 Tim. ii. 17, 18. The author of the Enis- 



18Jb A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

He to the Hebrews also assures us, that even sufch as 
have been " enlightened, tasted of the heavenly gift, 
been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, tasted the 
good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 
may so fall away, as that it is impossible to renew them 
again to repentance, seeing that they crucify to them- 
selves the Son of God afresh and put him to open 
thame." Or, as he expresses himself in the tenth chap- 
ter of the same Epistle, "sinning wilfully after they 
had received the knowledge of the truth ; they trample 
under foot the Son of God, count the blood of the cove- 
nant wherewith they were sanctified an unholy 1 ' or a 
cowmen u thing, and do despite to the spirit of his 
grace." We are, therefore, obliged to believe, with 
Ezekiel, that even " The righteous man may turn 
away from his righteousness, commit iniquity, and die 
therein." With the apostle Paul, that the just, or 
righteous man, that lives by faith, may draw back, even 
into perdition ; that those who actually stand by faith, 
and therefore share in the divine goodness, through not 
continuing in his goodness may be cut off, and that final- 
ly and for ever: and with our Lord and Saviour, that 
those who are really branches in him, in consequence 
of their not still continuing to abide in him, may be cast 
forth as withered branches, and may be gathered, and 
cast into the fire and burned. It appears, therefore, to 
us, to be needful to caution all believers, in the lan- 
guage of the apostle, " Let him that standeth take 
Meed lest he fall." The Methodists agree with their 
own poet, who says : — 

"The holiest who their watch remit, 

May sink into the tempter's snare ; 
Will fall into the hellish pit, 

Unless with humble, ceaseless prayer, 
They to the last themselves deny, 
And conquerors in the harness die." 

In a pamphlet written by Mr. Wesley, and entitled, 
" Serious Thoughts u*>on the Perseverance, of the 
Saints," are the following observations : — 

1. By the Saints, T understand those who are holy 
or righteous in the Judgment of God himself: those who 
are endued with the faith that purifies the heart, and 



PORTRAITtfKE OF METHODISM. 185 

produces a good conscience : those that are grafted into 
the good olive-tree, the spiritual, invisible church ; 
those who are branches of the true vine, of whom Christ 
says, " I am the vine, ye are the branches :" those 
who so effectually know Christ, as by that knowledge 
to have escaped the pollutions of the world; those who 
see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in 
the face of Jesus Christ, and who have been made par- 
takers of the Holy Ghost, of the witness and fruits of the 
Spirit: those who live by faith in the Son of God: those 
who are sanctified by the blood of the covenant: those 
to whom all, or any of these characters belong, I mean 
by the term saints. — But, 

2. Can any of these fall away ? By falling away^ we 
mean, not barely falling into sin. This it is granted 
they may. But can they fall totally? Can any of these 
so fall from God as to perish everlastingly? Either 
side of this question is attended with great difficulties; 
such as reason alone could never remove. But to the 
law and to the testimony. On this authority, I believe 
a saint may fall away ; that one that is holy or right- 
eous in the judgment of Cod himself, may nevertheless 
so fall from God, as to perish everlastingly. " When 
the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, 
and committeth iniquity, in his trespass that he hath 
trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them 
shall he die." Ezek. xviii. 24. That this is to be un- 
derstood of eternal death, appears from the 26th verse : 
*' When a righteous man turneth away from his right- 
eousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them, 
(here is temporal death) for his iniquity that he hath 
done, he shall die :" (here is death eternal.) It ap- 
pears farther, from the whole scope of the chapter, 
which is to prove, " The soul that sinneth, it shall die." 
ver. 4. If you say, " The soul here means the body," 
I answer, that will die whether you sin or not. Again, 
" When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely 
live ; if he trust to his own righteousness," (yea, or to 
that promise as absolute and unconditional) " and com- 
mitteth iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be re- 
membered; but for his iniquity that he h th committed 
shall he die." Ezek. xxxiii. 13. and ver. 18. " When 

* 2 



186 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

the righteous turneth from his righteousness and com- 
mitteih iniquity, he shall even die thereby." But how 
does this agree with Psalm lxxxix. 31 — 34. M If his 
children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments, 
I will visit their offences with the rod, and their sin 
with scourges. Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will 
I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my truth to fail," 
&c. There is no inconsistency between this declara- 
tion and the declarations which we have just quoted 
from Ezekiel. The prophet declares the just judgment 
of God against every righteous man who falls from his 
righteousness. The psalmist declares, " the loving- 
kindness which God sware unto David in his truth." — 
Read the whole psalm from verse 21. The covenant 
here spoken of, relates wholly to David and his seed 
or children. And even this covenant is not absolute, 
but conditional. The condition of repentance, incase 
©f forsaking God's law, was implied, though not ex- 
pressed. And this condition not being performed, God 
did also fail David, and did alter the thing that had 
gone out of his lips. He " abhorred and forsook his 
anointed, the seed of David, whose throne (if they had 
repented) should have been as the days of heaven."- — 
ver. 37, 38. Weil, but Jeremiah, as God's mouth, says> 
u I have ioved thee with an everlasting love," &c— - 
These words simply declare God's love to the Jewish 
.church. To be convinced of this, read the whole pas- 
sage, Jer. xxxi. 1« — 4. Let me observe, once for all, a 
fallacy that is almost constantly used by almost ail 
writers in favour of final perseverance. They apply 
assertions or prophecies to particular persons, which 
relate only to the church in general, and some only to 
the Jewish church and nation, as distinguished from 
all other people. 

3. A Saint may fall from God. The apostle Paul 
asserts (1 Tim. i. 19.) that "concerning faith" some 
" have made shipwreck." They had enjoyed faith, or 
they could not have " put it away." Their loss of faith 
was a wreck : a total wreck and final loss : for a ship 
once wrecked is never a ship again, but is totally and 
finally lost. But, you say, " He that believeth shall 
.fee s^ved," But, this scripture does not mean, that eve- 



PORTRAITURE OE METHODISM. 187 

ry man who now has faith, shall certainly and inevitably 
obtain eternal salvation. If so, then by all the rules 
of speech the other part of the sentence must mean, 
" he that believeth not" at this moment, shall certainly 
and inevitably " be damned" The genuine meaning is, 
" Me that believeth," if he continue to believe, " shall 
be saved :" but " he that believeth not," and continues 
not to believe, "shall be damned" It is true, as you say, 
that Christ says, John iii. 36, and John vi. 24, that " he 
that believeth hath everlasting life; I answer, (1.) 
The love of God is everlasting life ; it is the life of 
heaven. Every believer loves God ; and therefore has 
everlasting life/' (2.) Every one that believes is there- 
fore passed from death unto life, from spiritual death un- 
to spiritual life : and (3.) " Shall not come into con- 
demnation," if he continue in the faith unto the end, 
John viii. 51. 

Those who are grafted into the good olive tree, the 
spiritual invisible church, may, nevertheless, so fall from 
God as to perish everlastingly. " Some of the branches 
are broken off," says Paul, Rom. xi. 20, 21, 22. The 
olive-tree is not barely the visible, but the invisible 
church. But, you say, the 29th vere says, " The gifts 
and calling of God are without repentance." The pre- 
ceding verse shows, that we are to understand this of 
the unconditional election of the Jewish nation; that 
God did not repent of the blessings he had given them; 
and that God has still blessings in store for the seed of 
Abraham. See Num. xxiii. 19. Nor does this militate 
against the anchaiigeableness of God. Rather, it shows 
him to be unchangeably holy, always loving righteous- 
ness, and hating iniquity ; and unchangeably just.- — ? 
Nay, it does not prove any thing against God's faith- 
fulness. He fulfils every promise to those whom he 
made it to, namely, those who fulfil the condition of the 
promise: particularly that promise, 1 Cor. x. 13. — - 
*' God is faithful in that he will not suffer you to be 
tempted above that you are able to bear." " Faithful 
to establish and keep you from evil," Thes. v. 19. 
Faithful to confirm you unto the end. 1 Cor. i. 8, 9. 
But you say, no condition is either expressed or implied, 
where Paul speaks of being fully persuaded that " No- 



188 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

thing would separate him from the love of God in Christ 
Jesus." This assertion will bear a dispute. But were 
it just as you say, it only proves that the apostle was at 
that time fully persuaded of his own perseverance. And 
I doubt not but many believers at this day, have the 
very same assurance, termed in scripture, the full assu- 
rance of hope. 

Our Lord speaks of some of the branches as not abiding 
in him, but being broken off, withered, and burnt. And 
after being cast into the fixe and burnt, there could be no 
possibility of grafting them in again. 

Mr. Wesley argues in a similar way respecting other 
scriptures which are supposed to favour the doctrine of 
absolute final perseverance. The pamphlet is but small, 
yet contains much dispassionate and close argument. 

4. They believe, that though many continue in im- 
penitence and unbelief, and so perish eternally, it is not 
to be attributed to God's having unconditionally pre- 
destinated them to eternal death, or to his withholding 
from them his saving grace ; but to their ownfree, mine* 
cessitated, and avoidable rejection or abuse of that grace. 
For although there may be a difference as to the means 
and opportunities of obtaining faith and salvation, offer- 
ed to different nations and conditions of mankind ; yet 
does God bestow as much light and grace on all, as is 
sufficient to make them acquainted with himself, and 
with his will concerning them, and to enable them to 
worship and serve him acceptably, according to the 
dispensation under which they are. With respect to 
those to whom the holy scriptures and the gospel of his 
grace are committed, he affords them grace sufficient to 
enable them to improve these advantages to his glory 
and their own salvation. That is to say, he gives them 
grace sufficient to beget in them repentance unto life, 
and saving faith, and to carry on his good work in them 
to the end. Not only those, therefore, who actually 
repent, believe and are converted, but those also who re- 
main impenitent and unbelieving, have that grace afforded 
them whereby they might comply with these conditions 
of salvation. For those whom God calls to repentance 
and faith, he calls in good earnest, and not merely in 
show and pretence, as well by his word and the dispen- 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 189 

sation of his providence, as by his inward grace, with 
a good will and sincere intention to convert and save 
them. So that those who continue in sin, perish 
through the abuse of their own free will, like the Jews, 
w love darkness rather than light, because their deeds 
are evil;" resist the Holy Ghost; "judge themselves 
unworthy of eternal life;" reject, " and thereby make 
void the counsel of God against themselves :" close 
their eyes against the divine light, harden their hearts 
against the fear and love of God, and " will not come 
to Christ that they might have life," lest, says our 
Lord, " they should see with their eyes, hear with their 
ears, and be converted and healed." 

The Covenant of Grace. 

X. The Methodist believe, that the covenant of 
grace has been administered in different ages of the 
world. In the patriarchal ages it was administered by 
promises, prophecies, sacrifices, and at last by circum- 
cision. Under the Mosaic dispensation, generally term- 
ed the law, were exhibited in the paschal lamb, the 
scape-goat, the priesthood of Aaron, and a variety of 
sacrifices, oblations, and ablutions, and in types and 
shadows, the Messiah to come, and the privileges and 
blessings of the new covenant. These institutions 
were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through 
the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up 
the church of God in faith in the promised Messiah, by 
whom the true members thereof had full remission of 
sins, and eternal salvation. This is called the Old 
Testament. 

Under the gospel, Christ the substance, prefigured by 
these shadows being exhibited, the ordinances, in and 
by which this covenant is dispensed, are the pr> aching 
of the word, and the administration of the sacraments 
of baptism and the Lord's Supper: which ordinances, 
though fewer in number, and administered with more 
simplicity, and less external glory, yet hold forth this 
covenant in greater fulness, evidence, and spiritual ef- 
ficacy to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles. This 
h called the New Testament. There are not, there- 



190 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

fore, two covenants of Grace, differing in substance, 
but one and the same under various dispensations. 

Under this covenant of grace, and in all the dispen- 
sations thereof, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only me- 
diator between God and man ; the prophet, priest, and 
king, the head and saviour of his church, the heir of all 
things, and judge of the world. It pleased the Father 
that in Him all fulness should dwell, that being full of 
grace and truth, he might be thoroughly furnished to 
execute the office of a mediator and surety, which of- 
fice he took not upon himself, but was called thereto 
by the Father, who committed all power and judgment 
into his hands, and gave him commandment to execute 
the same. This office he willingly undertook, and in 
order to the proper discharge of it, was made under the 
law, which he perfectly fulfilled ; endured most griev- 
ous anguish in his soul, and most painful suffe rings in 
his body; was crucified, and died; was buried, and re- 
mained under the power of death till the third day, yet 
saw no corruption. He then rose from the dead with 
the same body in which he suffered ! with which also, 
rendered spiritual and glorious, he ascended into heav- 
en, and there sitteth at the right hand of the Father, 
making intercession, and at the end of the world, shall 
come again to judge the quick and the dead, the great 
and the small of all nations. 

By his perfect obedience and the sacrifice of himself, 
once offered to God, through the eternal Spirit, he hath 
fully satisfied the demands of divine justice, affronted 
by the sins o-f man, and hath procured, not only recon- 
ciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom 
of heaven, for all that truly repent, believe in him, and 
are faithful unto death. 

It is necessary to observe also, that although the werk 
of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till 
after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and the 
benefits thereof were communicated unto penitent be- 
lieving souls, in all ages, successively from the begin- 
ning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and 
sacrifices by which he was revealed and signified to be 
the " seed of the woman which should bruise the ser- 
pent's head, and " the Lamb slain from the foundation 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 191 

of the world ;" being " the game yesterday, to-day 
and for ever." Nor were the devout heathens who 
feared God and wrought righteousness, excluded from 
an interest in his mediation, though they were unac- 
quainted with his name, he being the Saviour of all men 
that are saved, but especially of those who explicitly 
believe in him. 

Marriage.-*— Loyalty. -—The Sabbath. — The visible 
Church. — Baptism, and the Lor (Fs Supper. 

XL Touching sundry other matters. 

1. Respecting marriage, the Methodists believe it to 
be between one man and one woman, and that it was 
ordained for the mutual help of both parties, and for 
the legitimate and regular increase of mankind ; that it 
is lawful and honourable ; but that it is not lawful for 
any man to have more than one wife, nor for any wo- 
man to have more than one husband at the same time, 
And Christians ought to marry only in the Lord, and 
therefore should not be united in wedlock with Infidels, 
Jews, Mahometans, Heathens. Neither should a true 
Christian marry a person who is only a Christian in 
name, but should take care if he or she do marry, not 
to be unequally yoked together with such as do not 
believe in, fear, worship, and serve God. 

2. The Methodists believe, that God, the supreme 
Lord and King of the whole world, hath ordained civil 
magistrates to be, under him, over the people, for his 
own glory, and the public good: and that they should 
be for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise 
of them that do well. Hence, it is lawful for Christians 
to accept and execute the office of magistrates, when 
duly called thereto. And it is the duty of the people to 
pray for their rulers, and all magistrates, superior and 
subordinate, to honour their persons, to pay them tri- 
bute and other dues, to obey their lawful commands, 
and to be subject to their authority for conscience sake. 

They believe also, that the King hath the chief pow- 
er in the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 
and his other dominions, unto whom the chief govern- 
ment of this empire appertains : and is not, nor ought 
to be, subject to any foreign jurisdiction. 



192 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

3. They believe it to be their duty to keep the first 
day of the week as a sabbath. This before Christ, was 
on the last day of the week; but from the time of his 
resurrection, was changed into the first day of the 
week, and is in scripture called " The Lard's day" and 
is to be continued to the end of the world as the Chris- 
tian sabbath. This they believe to be set apart by 
God, and for his worship, by a positive, moral, and per- 
petual commandment. And they think it to be agreea- 
ble to the law of nature, as well as divine institution, 
that a due proportion of time should be set apart for the 
worship of God. And, perhaps, no proportion could 
have been so proper as that of one day out of seven. — 
Less might have been too little, and more might have 
been more than could have been spared from other em- 
ployments. 

This day ought to be kept holy unto the Lord, and 
men and women ought so to order their affairs, and pre- 
pare their hearts, and they may not only have a holy 
rest on that day from worldly employments, words, and 
thoughts, but spend the day in the public and private du- 
ties of piety. No part of the day should be employed 
in any other way, except in works of mercy and neces- 
sity. On this day, they believe it to be their duty to 
worship God, and that not only in form, but at the same 
tame in spirit and in truth. Therefore, they employ 
themselves in prayer and thanksgiving, in reading and 
meditating on the scriptures, in hearing the public 
preaching of God's word, in singing psalms, hymns, and 
spiritual songs, in Christian conversation, and in com* 
memorating the dying love of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
And they believe, that no part of religious worship^ un- 
der the gospel, is confined to, or made more acceptable 
by, any particular place in which it may be performed, 
whether built and set apart for worship or otherwise.— 
And with them it is a prevailing idea, that God must be 
worshipped in spirit, daily, in private families, in the 
closet, and in the public assemblies, 

4. They believe The visible Church of Christ to con- 
sist of a number of believing and obedient people* 
among whom the word of God is preached in purity, 
and who walk, not only in the commands? but in all 



FOBTRAITITKE OE METHODISM, 19$ 

the ordinances of Christ ; that the church is not confi- 
ned to one nation, as under the law, but is universal, 
and will continue and increase to the end of the world. 
5. Thev believe baptism to be an ordinance appoint- 
ed by Christ; not only for the solemn admission of the 
party baptized into the visible church, but also to be 
to him a sign or emblem of regeneration, and of his pre- 
senting himself to God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in 
newness of life. It is also a covenant of grace, and by 
Christ's own appointment, is to continue in the church 
to the end of the world. The person is to be baptized 
in water, by a Christian minister, in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And 
baptism may be rightly administered, either by immer- 
sion, or by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the per- 
son. This ordinance of baptism ought to be adminis- 
tered, not only to adult believers, but to all infants 
whose fathers or mothers are true Christians. But be- 
cause proselyting was enjoined as previous to baptism, 
in our Saviour's charge to his apostles, when he sent 
them out to Christianize the world, some have inferred 
that infants are not to be baptized. But if the argu- 
ment was as strong as they supposed it to be, it would 
follow, that infants cannot be saved : for it is declared, 
" he that believeth not shall be damned." But, the 
truth is, that both Mark xvi. 15. and Matt, xxviii. 19, 
20, must be interpreted according to the subjects treat- 
ed of in them, which are plainly adult persons : and 
therefore no argument can be drawn thence con- 
cerning either the baptism or salvation of infants.-** 
They who conclude that infants are not capable of bap- 
tism, because they cannot believe, must conclude also 
that they cannot be saved; faith being more expressly 
required to salvation than baptism. " He that believ- 
eth and is baptized shall be saved ;" but though he says 9 
"he that believeth not shall be damned,*" 1 he does 
not say, " He that is not baptized shaii be damned. ;; 
Baptism is the Same trader the Christian dispensation, 
that circumcision was under the dispensation of Moses : 
and all the arguments against infant baptism would 
have been equally conclusive against infant circum- 
cision. Circumcision was a sign and seal of a cove- 

E 



194 A TUTTE AND COMPLETE 

nant entered into with God : and baptism is intended 
to be the same. Yet, though baptism ought not to be 
neglected, grace and salvation are not so inseparably 
annexed unto, or connected with it, as that no person 
can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all 
who are baptized are certainly regenerated. Lastly, 
This ordinance is to be administered only once to any 
one person. 

6. In the same night that Jesus was betrayed, he in- 
stituted the ordinance termed " The Lord's Supper" or 
the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. This 
he ordered his followers to do in remembrance of him. 
The Methodists believe that it ought to be observed by 
the church to the end of the world, in remembrance of 
his sacrifice of himself in his death and passion, for the 
spiritual benefit of believers; to engage them more 
strongly to love and serve him ; as a bond of union 
among themselves ; and as a sign of their mutual trust 
in and love to Christ ; and of their mutual hope of be- 
ing with him hereafter. " Is it not the communion of 
the body and blood of Christ ?" All true Christians 
have fellowship with him, especially in this ordinance, 
as to his grace, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glo- 
ry ; and being united with each other in love, they 
have communion in each other's gifts and graces, and 
are obliged to the performance of such duties, public 
and private, as conduce to their mutual good, whether 
in matters temporal or spiritual. They are bound, es- 
pecially, to maintain a holy fellowship and communion 
m the worship of God, and all such spiritual exercises 
as tend to their mutual edification. And they ought to 
help one another in temporal things according to their 
several necessities and abilities, which communion as 
far as we have opportunity, is to be extended to " all 
those who in every place call upon the name of the 
Lord Jesus." But this communion, notwithstanding, 
which the saints have with each other, doth not take 
away or infringe the title or propriety wlu£b each man 
hath in his goods or possessions. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 195 

State of separate Spirits. — Bay of Judgment. — Hell and 
Heaven. 

XII. The Methodists believe in a state of separate spi- 
rits after death, a general resurrection, a day of judgment, 
and a state of eternal happiness and eternal misery. 

1. They believe in a state of separate spirits. The 
bodies of men, after death, return to dust and see cor- 
ruption ; but their souls neither die nor sleep, but have 
an immortal subsistence, and immediately " return to 
God who gave them." The souls of the righteous, be- 
ing made perfect, are received into paradise, where 
they are with Christ in unspeakable felicity, waiting 
for the full redemption of their bodies. The souls of 
the wicked, immediately after the death of their bodies, 
lift up their eyes in hell, being in torments, Luke xvi. 
23. to be reserved to the day of judgment. 

2. The Methodists believe hell to be a dark bottom- 
less pit, full of fire and brimstone ; that the wicked will 
spend their time there in weeping, and wailing, and 
gnashing of teeth ; that every part of both body and 
soul will be tormented at once : that their bodies will 
be tormented by lying and burning in flaming fire ; that 
their souls will be tormented by a sense of the wrath of 
God ; by pride, self-will, malice, and envy ; by grief, 
desire, fear, rage, and despair; that their tormentors 
will be their own consciences, the devils and one ano 
ther ; that they will have no rest from torment day or 
night ; and that this torment will never have an end. 
But so far as it respects the body it cannot take place 
till the day of judgment. And as the wicked go to 
hell when they die, so the righteous are carried by an- 
gels into Abraham's bosom, or heaven. 

Mr. Wesley published a sermon on The torments of 
Hell. The text is Mark ix. 48. "Where the worm dietk 
not, and the fire is not quenched." 

He observes, every revealed truth is of importance : 
yet some are of greater importance than others. And 
we may judge of their special importance from the cir- 
cumstance of their being frequently mentioned in the 
bible. This is the case with the awful truth now be- 
fore us. Our Lord, who uses no vain repetitions , repeats 
it over and over in the same chapter, 



196 A TRUE AKD COMPLETE 

And the consideration of these terrible truths is not 
proper merely for enormous sinners. Read Luke xii. 
1-— 4. It behoves even those who fear and love God, 
to consider what is said in the bible about a state of fu- 
ture punishments. The punishment of those who will 
have their portion with the devil and his angels, will 
consist of what they lose, and what they feel. 

I. What they lose. This punishment of loss com- 
mences the moment the soul is separated from the 
body. In that instant the soul loses all the pleasures 
of the senses. The smell, the taste, the touch, delight 
no more. The organs that ministered to them are 
spoiled, and the objects that used to gratify them, are 
removed far away. All the pleasures of the imagina- 
tion are at an end. There is no grandeur, or light, or 
novelty, in those dark abodes. There is no music but 
that of groans and shrieks, of weeping, wailing, and 
gnashing of teeth; of curses and blasphemies against 
God, or cutting reproaches of one another. Nor is 
there any thing to gratify the sense of honour ; they 
are the heirs of everlasting shame and contempt. Thus 
are they totally separated from all the things they were 
fond of in this world. And they will lose all the per- 
sons they here loved. They are torn away from their 
nearest and dearest relations, every friend, and all the 
pleasures they yielded them. 

But ttrere will be u loss still greater than any, or all 
of these ; they will lose their places in the paradise of 
God. They will then understand the value of what 
they have vilely cast away. And paradise is only the 
porch of heaven. It is there is the fitness of joy and 
pleasures/or evermore. They will then know and fee], 
that God alone is the centre of all created spirits ; and 
that a spirit can have no rest out of him. It would seem 
the apostle had this in view, 2 Thes. i. 8, 9. Banish- 
ment from the presence of the Lord, is the very essence 
of destruction to a spirit that was made for God. And 
if that banishment lasts for ever, it is evevlasting destruc- 
tion. But, 

II. Their punishment from what they will feel or 
endure. (1.) There will be &ivorm that will not die.*-* 
This will include a guilty conscience, self-condemna* 



PORTRAITURE OE METHODISM. 19? 

tion, sorrow, shame, remorse, and a sense of the wrath 
of God. What is any anguish in this world, yea, even 
that of a wounded spirit, when compared with this.— 
Their souls will be wholly awakened, to feel all the 
wrath of an angry God. And, add to all this, what 
they will feel from unholy passions, from fear, rage, 
and despair ; and from unholy tempers, envy, jealousy, 
malice, and revenge. To these we may add, hatred of 
God, and all his creatures. Thus will their worm tor* 
ment them. 

And theatre is not quenched. Perhaps the meaning 
is, the fire will be essentially the same, to all who are 
tormented therein : only perhaps more intense to some 
than others, according to their degree of guilt. But 
their worm will not, cannot be the same. It will be in- 
finitely varied according to their various kinds, as well 
as degrees of wickedness. This variety will arise part- 
ly from the just judgment of God, rewarding every man 
according to his works. Variety of punishment will 
likewise arise from the very nature of the thing. The 
more wickedness a man brings to hell, the more misery 
he will find there. And his misery will be varied ac- 
cording to the various kinds of his wickedness. It was 
therefore proper to say the fire, in general ; but their 
worm in particular. 

Some have questioned whether there be any fire, that 
is, material fire, in hell. But if there be any fire, it 
must be material. For what is immaterial fire ? The 
same as immaterial water or earth ! Both the one and 
the other is absolute nonsense, a contradiction in terms. 
We must therefore affirm this fire to be material, or else 
deny its existence. But suppose there should be no 
fire, what would sinners gain by that, seeing all allow 
it is either fire or something worse ? And our Lord 
speaks of it as if it were real fire. This no^e can de- 
ny. Some aver, " It is not possible that tire should 
burn always. For by the immutable laws of nature, 
it consumes whatever is thrown into it. And by the 
same law, as soon as it has consumed its fuel, it is itself 
consumed, and goes out." 

In the present constitution of things, and during the 
present laws of nature.* all this is true, But, the pre- 

r 2 



198 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

sent laws of nature are not immutable. With the pre* 
sent constitution of things, the present laws of nature 
will cease. Afterwards, nothing will dissolve or con- 
sume any more. And, therefore, were it true, that 
tire consumes all things now, it does not follow, that it 
would do so after the whole frame of nature has under- 
gone a vast and universal change. 

And has not God already given some proof of what 
will be hereafter? Is not the linum abestum the incom- 
bustible flax, known in most parts of Europe? If you 
take a towel or handkerchief made of this, (one of 
which may now be seen in the British Museum,) you 
may throw it into the hottest fire, and when it is taken 
out again, it will be observed upon the nicest experi- 
ment, not to have lost one grain of weight. We will 
consider, 

III. Two or three circumstances attending the nev- 
er-dying worm, and the unquenchable fire. (1.) Con- 
sider the company that will surround every one that 
gets into that place of torment. In our public prisons, 
even condemned criminals often exclaim, " They wish 
they were hanged out of the way, rather than be plagued 
with the wretches round about them." But what are 
the most abandoned wretches compared to the inhabi- 
tants of hell ? None of the inhabitants of earth are yet 
perfectly emptied of all good : certainly will not be so 
during life ; and perhaps not till the day of judgment. 
But the damned in hell have no good remaining iu 
them, but are totally, and in the highest degree 
wicked. 

(2.) All these torments of body and soul are without 
intermission. They have no rest day or night, hut the 
smoke of their torment ascendeth tip for ever and ever, — »' 
According to the present constitution of the world, God 
has wise 3 and graciously ordained, that day and night 
should succeed each other. And the very extremity 
of pain, suspends or mitigates it. But not so in hell. 

(3.) Of this duration there is no end. Nothing but 
eternity is the term of this torment. And who can 
count the drops of rain, or the sands of the sea, or the 
days of eternity ? Every suffering is softened, if there 
be any hope, though distant, of deliverance from it 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM^ 199 

But here " Hope never comes, that comes to all ! From 
that place of torment there is no redemption." 

To conclude, what a guard should these considera- 
tions be against any temptations from pleasure ? Will 
you lose for any of these poor earthly, sensual pleasures, 
the pleasures of heaven, the society of angels, the 
company of the spirits of just men made perfect, of Je- 
sus, the mediator of the new covenant, and of God the 
judge of all ? What folly, what madness equal te this ! 
Are you tempted by pain either of body or mind ? Com- 
pare things present with things future. What is any 
pain of body, or of mind, to the worm that never dieth ? 

Lastly, let us be thankful, that we who have so much 
deserved it, are not already plunged into it. And let 
us take care that we never come into that place of tor- 
ment. 

The 80th hymn in our large hymn-book, is on the 
terrible subject of hellish torments. It runs thus : 

'* Terrible thought, shall I alone, 

Who may be saved, shall I, 
Of all, alas ! whom I have known, 

Through sin for ever die ? 

While all my old companions dear., 

With whom I once did live, 
Joyful at God's right hand appear > 

A blessing to receive. 

Shall I amidst a ghostly band, 

Dragg'd to the judgment-seat, 
Par on the left with horror stand, 

My fearful doom to meet 

Ah ! no, I still may turn and live ; 

For still his wrath delays ; 
He now vouchsafes a kind reprieve , 

And offers me his grace. 

I will accept his offers now, 

From every sin depart ; 
Perform my oft repeated vow, 

And render him my heart," &c« 

3. The Methodists believe heaven to be a place of 
light and glory ; that good men will live there in joy 
and happiness greater than they can now desire or 



300 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

think : that they will suffer nothing there ;* will have 
spiritual bodies ; that their chief happiness will lie in 
the enjoyment of God, that is, in knowing, loving, and 
seeing God face to face ; that they will spend their time 
in singing praise to God ; and that this happiness will 
last for ever and ever. 

4. They believe God has appointed a day in the 
which he will judge the world in righteousnes by Christ 
Jesus. The Judge will be the Son of God and the Sa- 
viour of man ; he will come accompanied by angels, and 
with flaming fire ; the dead will be raised up, and stand 
before the judgment seat of Christ; the books will be 
opened, and every work will be brought into judgment, 
with every secret thing; and the Judge will say to the 
righteous, who shall stand on his right hand, " Come ye 
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared 
for you." And he will say to the wicked, who will 
stand upon his left hand, " Depart, ye cursed, into ev- 
erlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." 

The chief end for which God hath appointed this 
day, is the manifestation of the glory of his perfections, 
as of his power in raising the dead, and collecting the 
universe of his rational creatures to his bar : his nrisdom 
in knowing all the actions, words, dispositions and 
thoughts of all mankind, with the various circumstances 
and qualities of each ; his holiness and justice in hating 
and punishing sin, and his mercy and love towards his 
believing and obedient children. For then shall the 
righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that ful- 
ness of joy and gladness, which shall proceed from the 
perfect vision and enjoyment of him. But such as in 
the days of their flesh " knew not God, and obeyed not 
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, shall be punished 
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the 
Lord and from the glory of his power." 

But while Christ would have us to be fully assured 
that there will be a day of judgment, both to deter men 
from sin, and for the greater consolation of the righte- 
ous in their afflictions ; so he will keep the exact peri- 
od of time, when that day shall be, unknown to men, 
that they may shake off all carnal security, and be al- 
ways ready and watchful, not knowing at what hour the 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 201 

Lord will come ; and may be always prepared to meet 
him, and to say, " Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly/ 1 

Mr. Wesley preached at the assizes in Bedford, on 
March 10, 1758. His text was, Rom. xiv. 10. a We 
shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ" After 
a suitable introduction, he proceeds to treat on, 

1. The chief circumstances which will precede the 
great judgment. (1 .) " God will show signs in the earth 
beneath," Acts ii. 19. Luke xxi. 11. Rev. xvi. 20. 
Joel ii. 30, 31. Luke xxi, 25, 26. Joel iii. 15. 1 Thes. 
iv. 16. Rev. xx. 13. 1 Cor. xv. 53. 

(2.) The Son of man shall send forth his angels over 
the earth, Matt.xxiv.31,&c. The Lord shall come with 
clouds, in his glory, Matt. xxv. 31. And before him shall 
be gathered all nations, and the dead, small and great, 
shall stand before God. And the books will be opened, (a 
figurative expression, plainly referring to the manner of 
proceeding among men,) and the dead shall be judged 
out of the things written in the books, according to their 
works. He considers, 

II. The judgment itself. And (1.) The Judge ; that 
man whom he hath ordained^ the Son of man, and yet the 
Son of God; the gracious Redeemer of mankind. 

2. Tlieday: it is emphatically styled the day of the 
Lord. The present time is our day : but when time 
shall be ended, then will come the day of the Lord.—- 
How long it will last, we cannot tell. From the ex- 
pression of Peter, 2 Peter iii. 8. " One day with the 
Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one 
day," some of the ancient fathers inferred, that the day 
of judgment would be a thousand years. And it seems 
they did not go beyond the truth : nay, probably they 
did not come up to it. For if we consider the number 
of persons to be judged, and the things to be inquired 
into, it would appear, that a thousand years will hardly 
be sufficient for the transactions of that day. Probably 
it may comprise several thousand years. But God shall 
reveal this in its season. 

3. As to the place of judgment, the scripture gives no 
explicit account. Some, yea, many have supposed 
it will be on earth, where the works were done, and 
that in order that there may be sufficient room, the 
Lord will employ the angels of his strength, 



202 A TRUE AtfD COMPLETE 

w To smooth and lengthen out the boundless space, 
And spread an area for all human race." 

But it is more probable that it will be in the clouds?-* 
1 Thes. iv. 16, 17, 

(4.) The persons to be judged will be as countless as 
the drops of rain, or the sands of the sea : a great multi- 
tude which no man can number. Every man, woman, 
and child, sinee the world began till time shall be no 
more. And the common supposition is, which does not 
seem absurd, that the earth bears at no one time less 
than four hundred millions of living human beings. In a 
succession of generations, for seven thousand years, 
what a congregation will this make ? 

(5.) The account to be given. Every work shall be 
brought into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it 
be good, or whether it be evil. Words as well as works, 
yea, the very secrets of the heftrt, will then he brought 
into judgment. God will bring to light the hidden things 
of darkness, and the very thoughts and intents of the 
heart In that day shall be discovered every inward 
working of every human soul : every appetite, passion, 
inclination, and affection, with the various combina- 
tions of them, with every temper and disposition that 
constitute the whole complex character of each indi- 
vidual. 

(6.) " The King will say to them on his right hand, 
Come, ye blessed of my Father," &c. All the good 
they did upon earth, will be recited before men and an- 
gels. All their good desires, intentions, thoughts, and 
dispositions, will also be remembered. And all their 
sufferings, for the name of Jesus, for righteousness sake, 
and for the testimony of a good conscience. 

(7.) Many believe that the evil deeds of those who 
die in the Lord will not then be brought forward, and 
refer to Ezek. xviii. 21, 22. Jer. xxxi. 34. Heb. viii. 
12. But the full display of the glory of God, and the 
clear and perfect manifestation of his wisdom, justice, 
power, and mercy towards the heirs of salvation, seems 
to render it necessary that all the circumstances of their 
lives should be placed in open view, together with all 
.their tempers, desires ? thoughts, and intentions of their 



POPTHAITtfRE OP METHODISM. 203 

hearts. Otherwise it would not appear from what a 
depth of sin and misery the grace of God had delivered 
them. It will be sufficient for them, that " their sins 
will be remembered no more" to their condemnation : 
and this is the plain meaning of the promise, Jer. xxxL 
34. 

(8.) After the righteous are judged, the King will turn 
to them on the left hand, and judge them also accord- 
ing to their works. And not only their works shall be 
judged, but also their words, desires, affections, tempers^ 
thoughts and designs. Consider, 

III. Some circumstances which will follow the judg- 
ment. (1.) The execution of the sentence pronounced 
on the evil and the good. " These shall go away into 
everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eter- 
nal." The same word is used in both cases : it follows 
that either the punishment lasts forever, or the reward 
too will come to an end. 

(2.) The heavens will pass away, and being on fire 
will be dissolved, Rev. xx. 11. 2 Pet. iii. 12. — v. 10. 

(3.) New heavens and a new earth will succeed, 2 
Pet. v. 13. Isa. lxv. 7. Rev. xx. 1, 3, 4.^xxii. 3, 4. 



CHAPTER III. 
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE METHODISTS, 

THE rules of discipline were not made all at once, 
but almost every conference has made some addi- 
tion, as circumstances have required. Hence they are 
very numerous, and in some few instances do not per- 
fectly harmonize. It would be a great service render- 
ed to the connexion to digest and simplify these rules. 
Something of this kind is attempted in this chapter, 
but in giving a faithful account, matters must be stated 
as they really exist. 

Some of the ru'es were made to suit circumstances, 
which in their own nature were but temporary ; and 
the candid reader, who considers the vast variety of 



&0& A TRUE A\D COMPLETE 

circumstances in which Methodism has been placed, 
during more than seventy years, the many peculiar dif- 
ficulties which have occurred; together with the variety 
of disposition and information possessed by the preach- 
ers, will aiiow, that the greatest wonder is, that so much 
consistency has been maintained, and that so little re- 
quires expunging or altering. 

The rules of the society, drawn up and signed by 
Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, May 1, 1743, in the 
very infancy of Methodism, and which rules stili remain 
in force, furnish us with the most early, authentic, and 
important document respecting the discipline of the 
Methodists. The next in point of authenticity, and 
which may be considered as a continuation of the rules, 
or a supplement, is contained in what has been added 
to the original rules by the order of the conference, and 
stands connected with the old ,rules in the copy which I 
here insert. 



The General Rules of the United Societies, in London, 
Bristol, Kingswood, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, &c. to 
which are added, sundry particular Regulations made 
in some late Conferences of the Preachers. 

RULES OP THE SOCIETY. 

I. In the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten 
persons came to me in London, who appeared to be 
deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for re- 
demption. They desired, (as did two or three more 
the next day,) that I would spend some time with them 
in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath 
to come, which they saw continually hanging over their 
heads. That we might have more time for this great 
work, I appointed a day when they might all come to- 
gether; which, from thenceforward they did every 
week; viz. on Thursday in the evening. To these, and 
as many more as desired to join with them, (for their 
number increased daily,) I gave those advices from time 
to time which I judged most needful for them; and we 
always concluded our meeting with prayer suitable to 
their several necessities. 



PGRTRAITITRE OF METHODISM* £05 

2. This was the rise of the United Society, first in 
London, and then in other places. Such a society is no 
other, than " A company of men having the form, and 
seeking the power of godliness : united, in order to pray 
together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to 
watch over one another in love, that they may help 
each other to work out their salvation." 

3. That it may the more easily be discerned, whether 
they are indeed working out their own salvation, each 
society is divided into smaller companies, called class- 
es, according to their respective places of abode. There 
are about twelve persons in every class : one of whom 
is styled the leader. It is his business, 

(1.) To see each person in his class, once a week at 
least, in order, 

To inquire how their souls prosper; 

To advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort, as occasion 
may require ; 

To receive what they are willing to give towards the 
support of the gospel. 

(2.) To meet the minister and the stewards of the 
society once a week, in order, 

To inform the minister of any that are sick, or of 
any that walk disorderly, and will not be reproved. 

To pay to the stewards what they have received of 
their several classes in the week preceding : And 

To show their account of what each person has con- 
tributed. 

4. There is one only condition previously required 
Of those who desire admission into these societies, viz. 
" a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and be saved 
from their sins :" but wherever this is really fixed in the 
soul, it will be shown by its fruits. It is therefore ex- 
pected of ail who continue therein, that they should con* 
tinue to evidence their desire of salvation, 

First, by doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every 
kind : especially that which is most generally practi- 
sed. Such as 

The taking the name of God in vain : 

The profaning the day of the Lord, either by doing 
ordinary work thereon, or by buying or selling : 



206 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

Drunkenness; buying or selling spiritous liquors ; or 
drinking them, unless in cases of extreme necessity : 

Fighting, quarrelling brawling ; brother going to law 
with brother ; returning evil for evil, or railing for rail- 
ing ; the using many words in buying or selling: 

The buying or selling uncustomed goods : 

The giving or taking things on usury, i. e. unlawful 
interest : 

Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation ; particu- 
larly speaking evil of magistrates, or of ministers. 

Doing to others as we would not they should do un- 
to us: 

Doing what we know is not for the glory of God : As, 

The putting on of gold or costly apparel : 

The taking such diversions as cannot be used in the 
name of the Lord Jesus : 

The singing those songs, or reading those books, that 
do net tend to the knowledge or love of God : 

Softness, and needless self-indulgence : 

Laying up treasure upon earth : 

Borrowing without a probability of paying : or taking 
up goods without a probability of paying for them. 

5. It is expected of all who continue in these socie- 
ties, that they should continue to evidence their desire 
of salvation, 

Secondly, By doing good, by being in every kind 
merciful after their power, as they have opportunity : 
doing good of every possible sort, and as far as possible 
to all men : 

To their bodies, of the ability that God giveth, by 
giving food to the hungry, by clothing the naked, by 
visiting or helping them that are sick, or in prison : 

To their souls, by instructing, reproving, or exhort- 
ing all we have any intercourse with : trampling under 
foot that enthusiastic doctrine, that, " We are not to da 
good, unless our hearts be free to it." 

By doing good especially to them that are of the 
household of faith, or groaning so to be : employing 
them preferably to others, buying one of another, help- 
ing each other in business : and so much the more, 
because the world will love its own, and them only. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 207 

By all possible diligence and frugality, that the gos= 
pel be not blamed. 

By running with patience the race that is set before 
them, denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily ; 
submitting to bear the reproach of Christ ; to be as the 
filth and offscouring of the world ; and looking that 
men should say all manner of evil of them falsely for the 
Lord's sake, 

6. It is expected of all who desire to continue in these 
societies, that they should continue to evidence their 
desire of salvation : 

Thirdly, by attending on all the ordinances of God ; 
such are, 

The public worship of God : 

The ministry of the word, either read or expounded : 

The supper of the Lord : 

Family and private prayer : 

Searching the scriptures, and 

Fasting, or abstinence. 

7. These are the General Rules of our societies; 
all which we are taught of God to observe, even in 
his written word, the only rule, and the sufficient rule 
both of our faith and practice. And all these we know 
his Spirit writes on every truly awakened heart. If 
there be any among us who observe them not, who ha- 
bitually break any of them, let it be made known unto 
them who watch over that soul, as they that must give 
an account. We will admonish him of the error of 
his ways : we will bear with him for a season. But 
then, if he repent not, he hath no more place among 
us. We have delivered our own souls. 

May 1, 1743. J. & C* Wesley, 

The following resolution was entered in the Minutes 
of the Conference, in 1797. 

" We have determined that all the rules which relate 
to the societies, leaders, stewards, local preachers, 
trustees, and quarterly meetings, shall be published, 
with the rules of the society, for the benefit and con- 
venience of all the members." 

A new edition of the f ules being called for ; in exe* 



SOS A TRUE AtfD COMPLETE 

cfttion of the above-mentioned determination, the fol- 
lowing rules being the most material, are here sub- 
joined. 

RULES RELATING TO THE SOCIETIES. 

1. Of Receiving Members in the Society. 

1. The leaders 5 meeting has a right to declare any 
persons on trial improper to be received into the socie- 
ty : and, after such declaration, the superintendent 
shall not admit such person into society. 

2. Neither the superintendents nor any other preach- 
ers, shall give tickets to any, till they are recommended 
hy a leader with whom they have met, at least two 
months on trial. 

3. No preacher shall give notes, (admitting persons 
on trial) to any but those who are recommended by one 
he knows, or till they have met three or four times in a 
•class. 

4. He must give them the rules of the society, the 
first time they meet. 

5. As some of our people have, in different parts of 
the kingdom, been imposed on, in various ways, by 
swindlers, who professed themselves members of our 
society, let no person be received into any society 
without a certificate, signed by one of the itinerant 
preachers in the circuit, from whence he professes to 
have come. 1799. 

II. Of the Exclusion of Members from the Society. 

1. The far greater number of those that are separated 
from us, exclude themselves by neglecting to meet in 
class, and use the other means of grace, and so gradu- 
ally forsake us. With regard to others, 

2. Our rule is fixed, and our custom expressed in the 
preceding rules of society, where it is said, " If there be 
any among us, who observe them not, who habitually 
break any of them, — we will admonish him of the error 
of his ways ; we will bear with him for a season : but 
then if he repent not, he hath no more place among u§." 



rOUTBAITTTKja OF MXTFODISM. 209 

3. No person must be expelled from the society for 
any breach of our rules, or even for manifest immorality, 
till such fact or crime has been proved at a leaders' 
meeting. 

III. Of permitting Strangers to be present at the Society 
Meetings and Love-Feasts. 

1. Let every otheT meeting of the society be for the 
members of the society only ; and let no strangers be 
admitted. At other times some may be permitted to 
be present : but the same person not above three tirues» 

2. Let all the members of the society show their tick- 
ets : and if the stewards and leaders are not exact, 
others must be employed that have more resolution. 

3. Let no person attend any love-feast without a note 
from the preacher. 

4. Let no love-feast be appointed but by the consent 
of the superintendent ; nor any funeral sermon be 
preached without his consent, and for those only who 
die happy in the Lord. 



IV. Of Service in Church Hours* 

The cases in which it has been agreed to allow ser- 
vice in what are commonly called church hours, are, — 

1. When the church minister, rector, vicar, or cu- 
rate, is a notoriously w T icked man. 

2. When he preaches Arian, Socinian, or any other; 
equally pernicious doctrine. 

3. When there are not churches in the town or pa- 
rish sufficient to contain the people. 

4. When there is no church within two or three 
miles. 

5. Where a majority of the trustees of any chapel, 
On the one hand, and of the stewards and leaders of the 
society belonging to that chapel, on the ether, allow of 
and request it : and as to places where there is a socie- 
ty and no chapel, wherever the majority of the stewards 
and leaders of that society testify that it is the wish of 
the people, and that it will cause no division among 
them* 

8 2 



210 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

6. Wherever divine service is performed in England 
on the Lord's day, in church hours, the officiating 
preachers shall read either the service of the church, 
our venerable father's abridgment of it, or at least the 
lessons appointed by the calendar. But we recom- 
mend either the full service or the abridgment. 

V. Concerning the Administration of the Ordinances of 
Baptism and the Lord's Supper in our Societies. 

1. The sacrament of the Lord's supper shall not be 
administered in any chapel, except a majority of the 
trustees of that chapel on the one hand, and the majori- 
ty of stewards and leaders belonging to that chapel, (as 
the best qualified to give the sense of the people,) on 
the ether, allow it. Nevertheless, in all cases the con- 
sent of conference shall be first obtained before this or- 
dinance shall be administered. 

2. Where there is a society but no chapel, if the 
majority of the stewards and leaders of that society tes- 
tify, in writing, to the conference, that it is the wish of 
the people that the Lord's supper should be administer- 
ed among them, and that no separation will be made 
thereby, their desire shall be granted. 

3. The sacrament of the Lord's supper shall not be 
administered to a society in a private heuse, within 
two miles of a Methodist chapel. 

4. The Lord's supper shall be administered by the 
superintendent only, or such of his helpers as are in full 
connexion, and as he shall appoint ; provided that no 
preacher be required to give it against his own inclina- 
tion ; and should it be granted to any place where the 
preachers on the circuit are all unwilling to give it, th£ 
superintendent shall, in that case, invite a neighbour- 
ing preacher who is properly qualified to give it. 

5. It shall be administered at such times and in such 
manner as the conference shall appoint. And the con- 
ference agree that the Lord's supper shall be adminis- 
tered among us on Sunday evenings only ; except the 
majority of the stewards and leaders desire it in church 
iiours; or where it has already been administered in 
those Jiourg. Nevertheless, it shall aever be achmnis- 



FOKTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 211 

iered on those Sundays on which it is administered iii 
the parish church. 

6. The Lord's Supper shall always be administered 
in England according to the form of the established 
church : but the person who administers shall have lib- 
erty to give out hymns, to use exhortation and extem- 
porary prayer. 

7. Wherever the Lord's supper shall be administer- 
ed according to the above-mentioned regulations, it 
shall always be continued, except the conference order 
otherwise. 

8. No person shall be suffered, on any pretence, to 
partake of the Lord's supper among us, unless he be a 
member of Society, or receive a note of admission from 
the superintendent, (or the preacher administering,) 
which note must be renewed quarterly. And If any 
leaders stewards, or trustees refuse to be regulated by 
this rule, the sacrament shall not be administered 
where this is the case. 

9. The administration of baptism and the burial of 
the dead, shall be determined according to the regula- 
tions above-mentioned respecting the Lord's Supper, 



VI. On Conformity to the World, and Sabbath Breaking. 

1- Those schoolmasters and schoolmistresses who re- 
ceive dancing-masters into their schools, and those pa- 
rents who employ dancing-masters for their children, 
shall be no longer members of our society. 

2. To prevent or remedy the evils of dram-drinking, 
evil-speaking, unprofitable conversation, lightness, ex- 
pensiveness, or gaiety of apparel, and contracting debts 
without due care to discharge them, or smuggling, buy- 
ing or selling uncustomed goods, the preachers shall 
solemnly and frequently warn the societies against these 
evils, and inform them that they who are guilty of 
them, cannot be permitted to remain with us. 

3. We strongly recommend to all the membess of 
our societies, the religious observation of the Lord's 
day, and desire our superintendents to exclude from the 
society all who buy or sell on that sacred day, except 



SX% A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

fn case of medicine for the^sick, or for supplying neces- 
saries for funerals. 

4. No member of our society must employ any bar- 
ber on the Lord's day. And all our people, who pos- 
sibly can, are desired to employ only those barbers who 
Conscientiously abstain from sabbath breaking. 

5. No member of our society must make any wake or 
feast, or go to any on the Lord's day, but bear a public 
testimony againt them. 

VII. Of Marrying with Unbelievers. 

Some of our members have married with unbelievers, 
yea, with una wakened persons. This has had fatal ef- 
fects. They have had either a cross for life, or turned 
back unto perdition. To put a stop to this, every 
preacher is enjoined to enforce frequently the apostle's 
caution, " Be not unequally yoked." And he is open- 
ly to declare that Avhoever does this shall be expelled 
the society. When any such are expelled, he is to sub- 
join a suitable exhortation, and to urge all single per- 
sons to take no step in so weighty a matter, without ad- 
vising with the most serious of their Christian friends. 

VIII. Of Bankruptcies. 

To prevent scandal, when any of our members be- 
come bankrupts, the superintendent shall talk with them 
at large. And if any of them have not kept fair ac- 
counts, or have been concerned in the base practice of 
raising money by coining notes, (commonly called the 
bill trade) he shall be expelled immediately. 

IX. Of Loyalty and Subjection to the King and 
Government, 

None of us shall, either in writing or conversation, 
speak lightly or irreverently of the government under 
which we live. We are to observe that the oracles of 
God command us to be subject to the higher powers ; 
and that "honour to the King" is there connected with 
the "fear of God." 1792, 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 21$ 

X. Of Days of Fasting. 

A general fast shall be held in all our societies, the 
first Friday after New- Year's-day; after Lady-day : af- 
ter Midsummer-day ; and after Michaelmas-day. 

RULES RELATING TO THE OFFICER8 OF THE SOCIETIES. 

I. Of the Appointment, or Change of Stewards and 
Leaders. 

1. No person shall be appointed a leader or society- 
steward, or be removed from his office s but in conjunc- 
tion with a leader's meeting, the nomination to be in 
the superintendent, and the approbation or disapproba- 
tion in the leaders 5 meeting. 

2. As several inconveniencies have arisen r^pecting 
the change of stewards ; to remedy this let it be observ- 
ed, that the office of a steward ceases at the end of the 
year : and every superintendent is required to change 
one steward at least; so that no steward may be in of- 
fice above two years together, except in some extraor- 
dinary cases. 

3. The proper time for changing the circuit stewards, 
is at the quarterly-meeting, when the superintendent 
shall consult all who are present, respecting the most 
proper person or persons to act in that capacity. 

4. The place for appointing or changing the steward of 
any particular society, is the leaders' meeting of that 
society. For in the general, " No person can be re- 
ceived as a society-officer among us without the eon- 
sent of that meeting to which he particularly belongs; 
nor can any officer be appointed except on the same 
plan." Minutes of 1797. 

5. The superintendent of every circuit shall invite 
the general steward of his circuit, to be present at the 
annual meeting of the district committee, during the set- 
tling of every thing relating to the finances of the dis- 
trist ; and every circuit steward shall have a right to be 
present, and to advise at the settlement of all financial 
matters. 18ol, 



314 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

II. Of the Local Preachers mid their MectingSc 

1. The superintendent shall regularly meet the local 
preachers once a quarter, and no person shall receive a 
plan as a local preacher, nor be suffered to preach among 
us as such, without the approbation of that meeting. 
Or, if in any circuit a regular local preacher's meeting 
cannot be held, they shall be proposed and approved at 
the general quarterly meeting of the circuit. 1794. 

2. A'l local preachers shall meet in class. No ex- 
ception shall be made in respect to any who have been 
travelling preachers in former rears. 1 793. 

3. Let no local preacher, who will not meet in class> 
or who is not regularly planned by the superintendent 
of the circuit where he resides, be permitted to preach. 

4. Let no local preacher be permitted to preach in 
any other circuit than his own, without producing a re- 
commendation from the superintendent of that circuit 
in which he lives; nor sutler any invitation to be ad- 
mitted as a plea, except from men in oihce, who act in 
conjunction with the superintendent of that circuit 
which he visits. N. B. The design of this rule is to 
prevent any, under the character of local preachers, 
from burthening the people, either by collecting money 
or living upon them, and to prevent improper persons, 
who bear no part of the expense, from inviting local 
preachers thus to visit them. But it was never intend- 
ed to reflect the least disrespect on any of our worthy 
brethren, the local preachers, whom, as a body, we 
greatly respect. 

5. Let no local preacher keep love-feasts, without 
the consent of the superintendent, nor in any wise in- 
terfere with his business. Let every one keep in hia 
own place, and attend to the duties of his station. 

6. No preacher who has been suspended or expelled, 
shall on any account be employed as a local preacher* 
without the authority of conference. 

III. Concerning Trustees* 

I a The trustees in conjunction with the superintend- 
eat, who shall have one vote only, shall choose their 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 215 

own stewards ; who shall receive and disburse all seat- 
rents, and such collections as shall be made for the pur- 
pose of paying interest of money due upon the premises, 
or for reducing the principal. The aforesaid stewards 
shall keep proper accounts in books provided for that 
purpose; which books shall be open for the inspection 
of the superintendent, and audited in his presence once 
every year; oroftener, if convenient. 

2. No trustee, (however accused, or defective in con- 
formity to the established rules of the society,) shall be 
removed from the society ; unless his crime or breach 
of the rules of the society be proved, in the presence of 
the trustees and leaders, 1794. 

IV. Of the Quarterly Meetings composed of the Stewards 
of the different Societies in each Circuit. 

1. All bills for the support of travelling preachers, 
<and their families ; for house-rent, fire, candles, sick- 
ness, travelling expences, and all other matters, for 
which the circuits cannot provide, shall meet with the 
approbation of the quarterly meetings, and be signed by 
the general steward of the circuit, before they can be 
brought to the district committee. 

2. No circuits shall be divided, till such division has 
been approved by the respective quarterly meetings, 
and signed by the general steward. 

3. Before any superintendent propose a preacher to 
the conference as proper to be admitted on trial, such 
preacher must be approved of at the quarterly meeting. 
1797. 

The rule respecting giving or taking things mi usury , 
i. e. unlawful interest, was made against giving or tak- 
ing things in pawn: and that was before pawnbroking 
was legalized by act of parliament. I have never known 
any person called to account for this in thirty years.— - 
What is here said about spirituous liquors, I have heard 
Mr. Wesley explain at the last conference before his 
death. When asking the preachers, who were going to 
be received into full connexion, "Do you drink any 
drams?" he said; "I mean spirits alone, or mixed 



216 A TH17E AND COMPLETE 

with water. Here it will be needful to take great 
care." Dr. Fothergill himself said, he made many 
drunkards; having advised persons in certain com- 
plaints to drink a little spirit and water. But what 
they used at first as medicine, they continued to use 
from contracted taste and habit." 
It may be proper to insert also, 



THE RULES OF THE BAND SOCIETIES, 

Drawn up December 25, 1738* 

The design of our meeting, is to obey that command 
of God, Confess your faults one to another, and pray for 
&ne another, that ye may be healed. 

To this end, we intend, 

1 . To meet once a week, at the Least. 

2. To come punctually at the hour appointed, with- 
out some extraordinary reason. 

3. To begin (those of us who are present) exactly at 
the hour with singing or prayer. 

4. To speak each of us in order freely and plainly 
the true state of our souls, with the faults we have com- 
mitted in thought, word, or deed, and temptations we 
have felt since our last meeting. 

5. To end every meeting with prayer, suited to the 
state of each person present. 

6. To desire some person among us to speak his own 
state first, and then to ask the rest in order, as many 
and as searching questions as may be, concerning their 
state, sins, and temptations. 

Some of the questions proposed to every one before 
he is admitted among us, may be to this effect. 

1. Have you the forgiveness of your sins ? 

2. Have you peace with God, through our Lord Jesus 
Christ ? 

3. Have you the witness of God's Spirit with your 
spirit, that: you are a child of God ? 

4. Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart ? 
5* Has no sin, inward or outward, dominion over you ? 
•* Do you desire to be told of your faults* 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 217 

7. Do you desire to be told of all yojar faults ? and 
that plain and home ? 

8. Do you desire, that every one of us should tell 
you, from time to time, whatsoever is in his heart con- 
cerning you ? 

9. Consider ! Do you desire, we should tell you 
whatsoever we think, whatsoever we fear, whatsoever 
we hear, concerning you ? 

10. Do j'ou desire, that in doing this, we should come 
as close as possible, that we should cut to the quick* 
and search your heart to the bottom ? 

11. Is it your desire and design, to be on this and all 
other occasions, entirely open, so as to speak every 
thing that is in your heart without exception, without 
disguise, and without reserve ? 

Any of the preceding questions may be asked as often 
as occasion offers: the four following at every meeting : 

1. What known sins have you committed since our 
last meeting ? 

2. What temptations have you met with ? 

3. How was you delivered? 

4. What have you thought, said, or done, of which 
you doubt whether U be sin or not ? 

Directions given to the Band Societies, December 25, 1744, 

You are supposed to have the faith that overcometh 
the world. To you therefore it is not grievous, 

I. Carefully to abstain from doing evil; in particular, 

1. Neither to buy or sell any thing at all on the 
Lord's day, 

2. To taste no spirituous liquor, no dram of any kind* s 
imless prescribed by a physician. 

3. To be at a word both in buying and selling. 

4. To pawn nothing, no, not to save life. 

5. Not to mention the fault of any behind his back v 
and to stop those short that do, 

6 To wear no needless ornaments, such as rings, ear- 
rings, necklaces, lace, ruffles. 

7. To use no needless self-indulgence., such as taking 
Snuff or tobacco, unless prescribed by a physician. 

th Zealously to maintain good works : in particular, 

y 



218 A TIIITE AND COMPLETE 

1. To give alms of such things as you possess, and 
that to the uttermost of your power. 

2. To reprove all that sin in your sight, and that in 
love and meekness of wisdom. 

3. To be patterns of diligence and frugality, of self- 
denial, and taking up the cross daily. 

III. Constantly to attend on all the ordinances of 
God : in particular, 

1. To be at church and at the Lord's table every 
week, and at every public meeting of the bands. 

2. To attend the ministry of the word every morn- 
ing, unless distance, business, or sickness prevent. 

3. To use private prayer every day ; and family 
prayer, if you are the head of a family. 

4. To read the scriptures, and meditate therein, at 
every vacant hour. And, 

5. To observe as days of fasting or abstinence, all 
Fridays in the year. 

Before we enter into the minutia of the discipline of 
the Methodists, it may be proper to describe their 

General Mode of Public Worship. 

The service commences with singing, in which the 
congregation joins. After this the preacher offers up 
an extemporary prayer. He then gives out a few more 
verses of a hymn, after which he takes his text, and be- 
gins his sermon. The Methodists preach, as well as pray, 
extempore. In some places, however, they read the 
Common Prayer, of the Church of England, either the 
whole service, or Mr. Wesley's abridgment of it. And 
where they do neither, on the Sunday forenoons, they 
read either one or both of the lessons appointed by the 
calender. But when the preachers read the Common 
prayer, they add extemporary prayer. They seldom 
pray long, as Mr. Wesley advised them not to pray 
more than five or eight minutes at one time ; he like- 
wise cautioned them against long singing, as well as 
long and loud preaching. In these respects he was 
himself a pattern, seldom detaining the congregation 
more than an hour* In general they do not dejiver 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 2^1 

long discourses, nor do they wrap up their sermons in a 
mumbling whisper, in about twelve or fifteen minutes. 
They see no need of running into one extreme to avoid 
the opposite one. 

On Sunday evenings, when the congregations are 
large, their sermons are longer than usual. But in gen- 
eral they do not preach more than forty or fifty minutes. 
And although they do not read their sermons, nothing 
rhapsodical or incoherent is approved. Few of them 
ever write out their sermons, yet they premeditate, and 
study the order and substance of their discourses ; and 
preaching so frequently renders the exercise compara- 
tively easy. However, this does not prevent the 
preacher from recollecting that divine assistance is es- 
sentially necessary, both in preparing for the pulpit, 
and in preaching. " We are not sufficient of ourselves, 
to think any thing as of ourselves ; but our sufficiency 
is of God," 2 Cor. iii. 5. Much less can we speak 
publicly to edification, unless the Lord assist U3, and 
accompany the word by the* Holy & host, and thus 
make it the savour of life unto life. 

Mr. Wesley advised his preachers to preach Christ, 
and that in some measure in every sermon ; to preach 
him in all his offices ; to declare the law as well as the 
gospel, both to believers and unbelievers ; and strongly 
to insist upon the necessity of inward and outward holi- 
ness. He advised them to set forth Christ as evidently 
crucified before their eyes ; Christ in all the riches of 
his grace, justifying us by his blood, and sanctifying us 
by his Spirit. He also advised them always to suit their 
subject to the state of their audiences ; to choose the 
plainest texts ; to take care not to ramble from their 
text, and to make out what they took in hand ; to be 
sparing in allegorizing or spiritualizing; to beware of 
any thing awkward or affected in their gesture, phrase, 
or pronunciation ; and to let their whole deportment be- 
fore the congregation be serious and solemn. 

After the sermon is ended, another hymn is sung, and 
the service concludes with a short extemporary prayer, 
and the usual benediction contained in 2 Cor. xiii. 14. 
Though this form of worship be plain aad simple, yet it 
is solemn arid edifying* 



220 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

Singing makes a more considerable part of the woi 
ship of the Methodists than perhaps of that of any other 
denomination of Christians; hardly any exercise so 
powerfully aiYects and raises the soul to heavenly things, 
as that of singing nsalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. 

The hymns used, not only breath a spirit of piety, 
but are beautifully poetic. Most of them were written 
by Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, and far the larger 
number by the latter. As a composer of sacred poetry, 
the world has seldom produced an equal to him. The 
merits of Dr. Watts, as a poetic writer, are universally 
acknowledged, and none will deny y 1 presume, that he 
was a competent judge of poetry. The Doctor was so 
charmed with the poetry of Mr. Charles Wesley, that 
he did not scruple to assert, that that single poem of his, 
entitled, " Wrestling Jacob," which may be found in 
page 137, of our large hymn-book, was worth all the 
poems which himself had ever written. 

The hymns used by the Methodists, are adapted to 
the various states and exercises of the mind of a pious 
person, and to all the different circumstances of life. — 
Qur large hymn-book contains a body of experimental 
and practical divinity, and is variously calculated to 
assist and quicken men to walk in the fear of the Lord, 
and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. Together with 
the charms of poetry, they display the purity, strength, 
and elegance of the English language ; and what is of 
the greatest moment, is the spirit of piety, which the 
reader will find breathing through the whole collection. 

It has been objected to the worship of the Metho- 
dists, that on some occasions, sundry persons have been 
much affected : and have cried out in prayer or praise ; 
in short that there has been considerable noise in the 
place of assembly. 

In answer to this objection, I would make a few re- 
marks. I believe, there are now extraordinary out-pour- 
ings of the Spirit of God, and on these occasions, some 
persons may not be able to restrain themselves : besides, 
there may be occasions, when it may be advantageous- 
ly allowed for a season, However, it is seldom that 
disorder can lay claim to a scriptural license. On the 
other hand 3 1 will not advocate the cause of dead form- 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 221 

ality in religion, nor attempt to justify those who lay 
too much stress on undeviating order and cold uniformi- 
ty. Of the two extremes, the latter is the worse. 

When in the ordinary affairs of life, we are oppressed 
with grief, or elated with joy, our words, our gesture, 
and our countenance, proclaim the state of our minds. 
And we need not wonder, that a man just enlightened 
to see, and awakened to feel, that he is a guilty, con- 
demned, and helpless sinner, should he in consequence 
overwhelmed with an horrible dread, and like the pub- 
lican, should smite upon his breast, and cry, " God be 
merciful to me a sinner :" or, that feeling the arrows of 
the Almighty sticking fast in his flesh, and the poison 
thereof drinking up his spirits, he should implore mercy 
with strong cries and tears. When the Lord inclines 
his ear unto him, and hears his cry ; when he brings 
him out of the horrible pit, and the miry clay, sets his 
feet upon a rock, and orders his goings; when a new song 
is put into his mouth, of praise and thanksgiving ; is it 
{surprising that he should cry out and shout, " My soul 
doth magnify the Lord, and my Spirit doth rejoice in 
God my Saviour ?" or, that he should call upon his 
soul, and all that is therein, to bless that merciful and 
gracious Lord, who has forgiven all his sins, and lifted 
upon him the light of his countenance, who has filled 
him with peace and joy in believing, and given him a 
good hope through grace, of an inheritance incorrupti- 
ble, undefiied, and that fadeth not away, reserved in hea- 
ven for him ? 

Such a person could scarcely be accused of disorder, 
or improper conduct, should he say to those around, — 
** Come hither, all ye that fear God, and 1 will tell you 
what he hath done for my soul : for he hath brought mx 
out of darkness into light, and from the power of Satan 
unto himself, so that I have received forgiveness of 
sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified; 
by faith that is in Christ Jesus. 1 ' But in general, the 
Methodist congregations are as orderly as any others. 

Before I quit the subject of our public worship-, I 
would mention a few other circumstances. 

There is nothing in which the Methodists manifest so 
little uniformity as in the hours of their service, espe- 

t 2 



222 A TRUE Attn COMPLETE 

cially on Sundays. In some of their chapels, the 
preaching is at seven o'clock in the morning, and six in 
the evening; in some at nine in the morning, halt* past 
one, and six; and in others at halt past ten, at two, and 
at six. And in some few instances, there are still oth- 
er variations : this is regulated by circumstances, and 
those times are fixed upon, which are judged to be the 
best. Methodism becomes all things lawful to all men, 
in order the more effectually to promote their salvation. 
As far as circumstances would admit, Mr. Wesley and 
his followers, have laboured to maintain a strict union 
with the church of England. But as they had no other 
bond of union than that of piety, some joined them who 
had been brought up dissenters; and in consequence of 
this, the ministers to whose congregations they had for- 
merly belonged, refused to let them partake of the Lord's 
supper with them, and also to baptize their children, 
Some ministers of the established church behaved in a 
similar way ; others of these were so miserably defi- 
cient in point of religion, that many of them could not 
in conscience receive the sacrament at their hands. — 
There were others, whose preaching w r as so contrary to 
the articles and homilies of the church, or so full of bit- 
ter railing against the Methodists, that many could not 
think it to be their duty to attend their ministry. 

In some places also, our chapels were at a great dis- 
tance from any church ; and in others the churches 
were too small. In consequence of these circumstan- 
ces, our service was allowed in church hours, in sundry 
places. This w r as strongly opposed by some of the 
preachers, and by many of the people. But where a 
large majority was in favor of it, and no division of the 
society was likely to take place, the conference found 
ihemselves under the necessity of conceding the point* 
Where a majority of the trustees, the stewards, and 
leaders, signify to the conference their desire to have 
service in those hours, their desire is complied with. 

The case is the same respecting the Lord's supper, 
the baptizing of children by our preachers, and burying 
the dead, in burying grounds belonging to our chapels ; 
where the majority of the trustees, stewards, and leaders 
are against these, nothing of the kind takes place* 




PORTRAITURE OE METHODISM. 323 

Meantime, the preachers are neither to do nor say 
any thing to influence the people either the one way 
or the other. And no preacher is required to read the 
Common Prayer, or to baptize, or to administer the 
Lord's supper, or bury the dead, contrary to his own 
judgment. As to the people, where we have these 
privileges, some join their brethren in them, and some 
do not, but go to the church, receive the sacrament, 
have their children baptized, and bury their dead there. 
To this we make no objections, but let every man do as 
he is persuaded in his own mind. The Methodists 
believe, that they were not raised up to do good to 
any one denomination of people only, but to rush 
through every opening door, to spread scriptural holi- 
ness over the land, and in some measure over the world - r 
till names, and sects, and parties fall, and all Christians 
be of one fold under one shepherd. 

In administering the Lord's supper, baptizing of 
children, and burying the dead, we adhere to the form 
of the church of England : though some of the preach- 
ers deviate from it a little ; no strict uniformity is in- 
sisted upon, but every one is allowed to use his own 
judgment. In giving the Lord's supper, we sing suita- 
ble verses of hymns, and pray extempore. And in 
burying the dead, the officiating preacher frequently 
deliverers a short appropriate discourse to those who 
are present. 

Prayer Meetings 

Are in much esteem, and are well attended by the Me- 
thodists, especially on Sunday evenings. These are 
usually held in private houses, both in cities, towns, and 
villages in the country ; they generally continue about 
an hour, and are very useful to many persons, who from 
want of decent clothes, or unavoidable confinement, 
do not attend any place of worship during the day. — 
Religious impressions have been made upon many 
minds at these meetings. They are very useful also, 
in affording young men of piety and promising abilities, 
an apportunity for exercising their gifts in prayer and 
exhortation, Three or four exercise at each prayer 



224 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

meeting, each one giving out a hymn, and then offering 
up an extemporary prayer. 

There is a special description of meetings for prayer, 
termed Intercession : these are held on Fridays, at 
twelve o'clock, in some of the oldest societies. But 
they became more general a few years ago, when the 
conference recommended, that a prayer meeting should 
be held every Friday, to intercede for our nafion, in- 
volved in war, and various other distresses. But in 
manufacturing places, the forenoon was inconvenient, 
and the meeting was appointed for the evening ; these 
meetings are held weekly still. And in these little as- 
semblies, many fervent, and I trust effectual prayers, 
are nut up for our king and country ; for all descrip- 
tions of people in the nation, and for all the world. 

In some of the societies, on Saturday evenings, there 
is held what is called, 

The Meeting of the Penitents. 

This was instituted for the special purpose of ad- 
dressing those who were convinced of sin, sorry for 
their transgressions, and mournfully seeking mercy. 
Frequently, however, the officiating preacher speaks a 
seasonable word to others also. Singing and prayer 
constitute part of the exercises at these meetings. 

Admission into the Society. 

In genera], no person is admitted into society, even 
upon trial, except recommended by some person ac- 
quainted with them, and after meeting once or more in 
class. The superintendent has power to admit on trial, 
persons recommended by a leader with whom they have 
met, and to give notes of permission to love-feasts, 
without such recommendation, if he thiak proper. Yet 
in all doubtful cases, prudence directs him to consult 
such as are most likely to furnish him with the neces- 
sary information. Every person admitted into the so- 
ciety, is not only to conform to the rules just before in- 
serted, but is required to meet in the class to which 
he or she belongs^ at every opportunity. 



PORTRATT'TKE OF METHODISM. 



225 



Class Meeting. 

A class-meeting opens by singing; a few verses of a 
hymn, ami the leader making a short grayer. Ke says 
a few words on the subject of his own experience as a 
Christian; and then speaks to e*ch member of the class 
in the order in which their names stand in the paper, 
generally asking a few pertinent questions respecting 
their religions affections and practice, while he gives 
to each such instructions, cautions, reproofs, or encour- 
agements, as the case seems to require* 

FORM OF THE CLASS PAPER. 





Month. 


JUNIi 


July. 




Day. 


3 




17 


24 


1 


8 


\o 


22 




Thomas Cooper 


d 






Elizab. Cooper 


s 














William Unwin 


b. 














Mary Uawin 


11. 




_~~ 










Joseph Townley 


a. 






John Short 


P- 














Samuel Tale ' p 










; 






Henry Elliot p. 










i 



These meetings are of the highest advantage to those 
who attend them. They afford opportunities for teach- 
ing religious truths, for quickening languishing piety, 
stirring up persons who have grown weary and faint 
in their minds, for encouraging feeble and disconsolate 
spirits, as well as promoting Christian union. The 
meeting closes with another hymn and prayer. 



S2B A TRUE AND COMPXETE 

The Appointment and Office of Class Leaders. 

In forming a new society, consisting of only one clas$> 
it is the province of the superintendent of the circuit 
to appoint the leader. 15ut he hies upon one, accord- 
ing to the best of his judgment, who will be most suita- 
ble for the office, as well as agreejibie to the people 
who now join. Nearly the same maybe said respect- 
ing the appointment of a new leader to any society 
consisting of one class only. But where there are sev- 
eral classes belonging to the same society, it is dun^ 
according to the rule. 

The office of a leader consists in meeting his class 
as above; in visiting those wfie absent themselves from 
the class, and the sick members belonging to it; in re- 
ceiving the weekly contributions be ore-mentioned, in 
attending the leaders' meetings, and at those meetings 
paying the class-money into the hands of the stewards 
of the society; giving his vote upon ^ny proposal for the 
exclusion or admission of a member of society, or the 
appointment of new stewards for that ; society ; to which 
we must add, that he must show his class-paper to the 
officiating preacher, and answer questions put to him 
respecting any who neglect to meet in his class, or any 
whose characters are rendered doubtful, or may be the 
jpu'nyrjijtB ui inquiry* 

A person appointed to be leader of a class, is sup- 
posed to be not only moral, but truly pious ; of sound 
judgment, zealous for the salvation of souls, of good re- 
port, and apt to teach, according to the nature and de- 
sign of class-meetings. And he should state to his 
class the propriety of contributing to the support of the 
cause of God, according to our rules, see 1 Cor. xvi. 2. 
2 Cor. ix. 6, 7. He is particularly requested to see 
that each member in his class has the rules of the so^ 
<}iety, in order that no one may be ignorant of them, 
and to read and enforce them in his class once in every 
quarter. He is desired to regulate his class paper in the 
following manner. If any member of his class be ab- 
sent at the weekly meeting, he is requested to inquire 
into the cause, and if the person be distant from home* 
to place opposite his name a D, if sick, an S ? if business 



PORTRAITURE QE METHODISM. %%% 

has prevented, a B ; if there be reason to conclude it 
has been neglect, N ; and if no reason can be assigned 
at the time, an A. He is also requested to write the 
names of those persons who are on trial on the back of 
his class paper, where they are to remain till the next 
quarterly visitation ; when those who are then approved 
of, may be received as members of the society. No 
leader is to receive a member from another class with- 
out the consent of the preacher and his former leader, 
nor put any member out of his own class himself, 

Stewards and Leaders Meetings. 

A steward of the society and a circuit steward are two 
distinct offices, and are but seldom in the same hands. 
But there is no rule against a man's filling both offices 
at the same time. 

The office of a steward of the society, is to attend the 
leaders meeting, and there to receive from each leader 
what class money he has in his hand, to pay the officia- 
ting preachers their weekly board, and any other just 
and commonly allowed demand. At these meetings 9 
the stewards are not only the treasurers, but the secre- 
taries also. They are required to keep regular and 
just accounts of all monies received by them, and to 
show their accounts to the superintendent when required* 
It is the business of the stewards to make the necessary 
preparatioas for holding the quarterly meetings and 
love-feasts, and to take care that none get into the love- 
feasts, but those who are members of society, or who 
have notes of admittance from the preachers. Lastly, 
where the district meeting, or the conference is held, it 
is the business of the stewards to make the necessary 
preparations, and to pay all expences incurred by such 
assemblies, which have not been discharged by the 
preachers so assembling. 

The office of a circuit steward is to reoeive and pay 
all monies at the quarterly meetings, and to keep a 
fair account of the whole ; to assist in regulating the 
income and expenditure ; to lend what money may be 
wanted; to pay all proper and allowed demands, to- 
gether with the travelling expences to and from the 



228 A T*llrtE AND COMPLETE 



district meetings and conferences ; as also to advance a 
reasonable sum to take the preachers and their families 
to their new appointments. But it frequently happens, 
the finances of the circuit are so low, that the stewards 
cannot advance money for these removals ; and in such 
cases, the deficiencies, as far as judged reasonable, and 
the funds will allow, are paid at the next conference. 
But sometimes when a preacher is able, he makes no 
claim, but bears the loss. 

Quarterly Meetings. 

A quarterly meeting is composed of the travelling 
preachers stationed in the circuit where such meeting 
is held, the stewards of such circuit, the stewards of the 
different societies in the circuit, and sometimes other 
particular friends, members of society, who may be invi- 
ted, or who may wish to attend, are present. There is 
generally a plain dinner, and, in most places, those who 
dine pay a shilling, except the preachers, or some poor 
brother. 

The business of the quarterly meeting is, to receive 
the quarterly income from the stewards of the different 
societies in the circuit, and to pay the preachers the 
quarterly allowances for clothes, &c. And also the 
usual allowances to a married preacher for his wife, his 
children, and servant, At this meeting also, there are 
frequently demands lor sundry other things. And it h not 
Unusual at these meetings to take into consideration 
any proposed improvements in the circuit ; sometimes 
the propriety of dividing the circuit, having an addi- 
tional preacher, or the case of any local preacher in 
that circuit, who may be proposed as a suitable person 
to become an itinerant preacher. 

The quarterly meeting is also the proper time and 
place, for changing or re-ap, ointing the circuit stewards. 
It is the sole and exclusive business of the superintend- 
ent to name who he thinks would be proper to fill the 
office. But if the person so nominated be objected to 
fey the majority of the meeting, he must name another, 
and should they object again, he must nominate anoth- 
er, till he shall fix upon one whom the majority of the 






PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM:. 229 

persons present agree to appoint. And it is agreeable 
to a rule of the conference, that no steward of a circuit, 
or of a society, shall continue such more than one year, 
except re-appointed to the office. And it is recom- 
mended, that, as far as practicable, one of the two stew- 
ards shall be changed each year. 

The money received and paid by the circuit stewards 
at the quarterly meetings, is raised by the contributions 
of the different societies at the quarterly renewal of the 
tickets. There is not only a weekly contribution, but 
a quarterly contribution also in all the circuits. For 
distinction sake, the former is Gften called class money, 
and the latter ticket money; not that the tickets are sold, 
but because it is the rule to contribute one shilling or 
more, at the time of receiving the quarterly tickets. — 
The original average contribution was, that each mem- 
ber, taking rich and poor together, should contribute as 
many pence iveekly, and as many shillings quarterly, as 
they were in number. And this, when money was 
more than twice the value it is now ; yet many socie- 
ties do not come up to this; some few, however, do 
more than this. Had the original average contribution 
been raised in every circuit, those difficulties and em- 
barrassments, the conference has had so often to contend 
with had never existed, nor would so many preachers 
have had to groan under pinching poverty. 

Of late years, many quarterly meetings have taken 
to themselves the authority of discussing the question 
of what preachers would be proper for their circuit the 
next year, and who the conference should be requested 
to send to their circuit. We have, indeed, no positive 
rule, either for or against this practice ; only the preach- 
ers are positively required by the conference, not to go 
out of the quarterly meeting during any of its discus- 
sions, see Minutes of 1806. And the conference has 
equally determined, that no letter shall have any atten- 
tion paid to it, except it come from the quarterly meet- 
ing. 

Local Preachers, 

Are a very valuable and useful part of the Methodist 
societies. Many of them labour much ; and few of 



230 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

them ever receive any reward in this world. After be 
ing employed six days in their own business, they deny 
themselves the rest of the Sabbath, and travel a number 
of miles, preach once or more, and often return home ti- 
red and weary. Generally they get a little bodily re- 
freshment, at the expense of the people to whom they 
preach, and in some cases the hire of the horses which 
they ride. Yet unenviable as the office is, we do not 
allow any man to act as a local preacher among us, ex- 
cept he be a member of the society, a man of good sense, 
who has a competent knowledge of the scriptures in 
general, and the doctrines of the gospel in particular ; 
unless he be able to speak in public with tolerable ease 
and readiness ; and after due examination, be approved 
of by the local and travelling preachers in the circuit 
where he resides. It would be an easy, and not an un- 
pleasant task, to mention many local preachers of great 
abilities, whose labours would do honour to any commu- 
nity. 

A meeting of the local preachers is held in most cir- 
cuits once in the quarter. The superintendent preacher 
meets with them. After singing and prayer, inquiry is 
made respecting the moral character of each; and also 
if there be any complaints against any of them for 
preaching unsound doctrines, neglecting to fulfil their 
appointments, &c. 

At these meetings is determined what new places 
shall be taken into the local preachers' plan, what old 
places shall be given up, who shall be admitted as local 
preachers, and who shall be discontinued. The local 
preachers appointments are regularly planned by the 
superintendents of the respective circuits. The plan fe 
usually made for six months, and in many circuits is 
printed and circulated among the people. This descrip- 
tion of men have done, and still do much good: and 
it is to be hoped no impolitic minister under any perse- 
cuting influence, will ever attempt to make any restric- 
tive laws against them. 

Travelling Preachers, 

From among the local preachers are selected those 
who are appointed to circuits as itinerants. These can- 



PtfRTRAlTWRE OF METHODISM. 251 

not always be chosen with mere reference to their 
preaching abilities : for some of the local preachers are 
not willing to travel and some of them cannot. The 
embarrassed state of the connexion in respect to pecu- 
niary supplies, obliges the conference to prefer those 
who are single. But still the greatest care is taken 
that no improper person be sent to travel. . It will be 
asked what are the general qualifications required in a 
travelling preacher among the Methodists ? To this I 
answer, 

1 . Except in some very rare cases, when a minister of 
the established church, or a dissenting minister, may 
join us, every person admitted to be a travelling preach- 
er, has been some time a member of our society. But 
as we neither profess to be omniscient or infallible, 
there is a possibility the conference may be imposed 
upon. However I am convinced this does but seldom 
happen ; and when it does, the man is soon unmasked, 
and discarded. And sometimes even before sufficient 
time has been allowed for this, he finds the office and 
employments he has got into, so disagreeable to flesh 
and blood, that he shapes some excuse and quits the 
field. 

2. It is required that they have a clear and sound un- 
derstanding. And many of uncommon natural powers, 
have been, and still are among the itinerant preachers. 
Indeed, it may readily be allowed, that to speak ex- 
tempore, upon such subjects, and before such congrega- 
tions, must require as large a portion of natural endow- 
ments, as generally fall to the share of men. 

3. It is not a pre-requisite for admission as a preacher 
among us that a man be what is termed a scholar. Yet 
the Methodists neither despise nor neglect learning. 
Some of the preachers had much learning, and some 
had a little, when they became itinerants ; and many 
of them have greatly improved in learning since that 
time. Yet they can see nothing, either in the scrip- 
tures, or in the nature of the employment, that demands 
that all preachers should be learned men. To have a 
few profound scholars may be very convenient and use- 
ful on many accounts. But, as much may be learnt 
and taught in our mother tongue, as any people need to 



#3£ A TRUE AND COMMUTE 

know, to make them wise unto salvation : though the 
Methodists do not require that a preacher should under* 
Stand Latin and Greek, they do require what is infinite- 
ly more important, namely, that he should understand 
the things of God, and that clearly, having a just con- 
ception of the analogy of faith, and of the whole plan 
of salvation. And it is enjoined by rule, that every 
preacher shall give attendance to reading and to medito^ 
Men. They are required, 

4. To have a ready utterance. For let a man know 
whatever he may, his knowledge cannot profit others, 
any further than he is able to communicate it by words. 
But, 

5. Before we, admit a person as a travelling preach- 
er, we inquire " whether he has had any fruit of his la- 
bours, during the time he has been a local preacher ?" 
" Whether any sinners have been reformed by his la> 
hours ?" " Have any of the children of God been edifi- 
ed and built up by his preaching ?" " Are his talents of 
that description as may make him generally useful ?" 

6. Our rules will not admit of their being sent out. 
1.) Till they have been proposed at, and approved by, 

a majority of the quarterly meeting in the circuit in 
which they respectively reside. 

(2.) The like proposal must be made, and the same 
sanction obtained at the annual meeting of the district 
in which their circuit is. Nay more, they must attend 
the district meeting, and undergo an examination res- 
pecting their religious experience, knowledge, motives, 
sentiments, and their willingness to conform to the rules 
of our discipline. 

(3.) And when at the conference, as is sometimes 
the case, we have not a sufficient number of persons 
who have gone through this process, and are obliged to 
select from among the other local preachers, and put 
them down for circuits, it is done only provisionally; 
and subject to a similar process. Though they should 
be put down for circuits, and their names be printed in 
the copy of the stations, still they must not go to their 
circuits till the quarterly meeting has concurred as- 
above-mentioned, and till three superintendent preach- 



PORTRAITUEE OE METHODISM. 23S 

ers, or three preachers, each of whom shall not have 
travelled less than ten years, shall have examined them, 
as others are examined at the district meetings. 

(4.) After this, they are employed four years upon 
trial, before we receive them into full connexion, and 
admit them to all the privileges of the body. And 
should any serious doubts arise, at the expiration of 
these four years, respecting their piety, abilities, or 
probable usefulness, they will either be dismissed, or 
have the time of their probation prolonged. 

(5.) During the time of their probation they are not 
allowed to marry : and should they do so, they must not 
expect the conference to employ them any more. But 
the conference can dispence with the rule, and allow a 
person, upon some extraordinary occasion, to marry be° 
fore the end of the four years. This has been done in 
a few cases, and but a few. 

(6.) Jif a preacher should become superanuated before 
the term of his probation be ended, he is not entitled to 
any annual allowance from the preachers' 1 fund. 

The following twelve rules belong to all the preach- 
ers, but are particularly denominated, " The twelve rides 
of a helper ;" that is, a preacher who does not fill the 
office of a superintendent. 

1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment 
Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time : 
neither spend any more time at any one place than is 
strictly necessary. 

2. Be serious. Let your motto be Holiness to the 
Lord. Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking. 

3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women ; 
partiularly with young women. 

4. Take no step towards marriage without first con- 
sulting with some of your brethren. 

5. Believe evil of no one ; unless you see it done ; 
take heed how you credit it. Put the Jaest construction 
upon every thing : you know the judge is always sup- 
posed to be on the prisoner's side. 

6. Speak evil of no one : else your word especially 
would eat as doth a canker : keep your thoughts within 
your own breast, till you come to the person concerned 

u.2 



234b A TtUJE AND COMPLETE 






7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him f 
and that plainly, and as soon as may be : else it will fes- 
ter in your heart. 

8. Do not affect the gentleman. You have no more 
to do with this character, than with that of a dancing- 
master. A preacher of the gospel is the servant of all. 

9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin : not of fetching 
wood (if time permit), or drawing water : not of clean- 
ing your own shoes, or your neighbour's. 

10. Be punctual. Do every thing exactly at the 
time : and in general, do not mend our rules, but keep 
them : not for wrath, but for conscience sake. 

11. You have nothing to do but to save souls.—* 
Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go 
always, not only to those that s want you, but to those 
that want you most. Observe, it is not your business 
to preach so many times, and to take care of this and 
that society : but to save as many souls as you can, to 
bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repent- 
ance, and with all your power to build them up in that 
holiness, without which they cannot see the Lord. — ■ 
And remember! a Methodist preacher is to mind every 
point, great and small, in the Methodist discipline. — 
Therefore you will need all the sense you have, and to 
have all your wits about you. 

12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, 
but as a son in the gospel. As such it is your duty to 
employ your time in the manner which we direct: 
partly in preaching and visiting from house to house : 
partly in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, 
if you labour with us in our Lord's vineyard, it is need- 
ful that you should do that part of the work which we 
advise, and at those times aod places which we judge 
most for his glory. 

Respecting these golden rules, it may be proper to 
observe, " affecting the gentleman," was not designed 
to countenance clownishness, or any thing contrary to 
true Christian courtesy. And when it is said, u a 
preacher of the gospel is the servant of all," it certainly 
was not meant to insinuate, that a preacher was to be 
set to do the lowest and most slavish drudgery which 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 235 

any person could find for him to do. I presume the 
servant of God is " the servant of all" in gospel labours* 
and in nothing else. And though he may not be asha- 
med of " cleaning his own shoes, or the shoes of others," 
yet, I apprehend, they ought to be "ashamed 1 ' who 
would expect or suffer him so to do, especially such as 
are instructed and profited by his ministerial labours. 
And surely they ought to feel some shame also, who 
would suffer the preacher to go from place to place, day 
after day, with his shoes and boots uncleaned. 

And as to what is said in the twelfth rule about do- 
ing that part of the work, and at the times and places 
advised, it is needful to observe, this rule was made in 
Mr. Wesley's time, and early in Methodism. Mr. Wes- 
ley superintended the whole connexion. The preacher 
in each circuit, to whose care the circuit was commit- 
ted, was called the assistant, because he assisted Mr. 
Wesley in the government of his societies and the 
preachers. And the other preachers were called help- 
crs, because they helped the assistants in the general 
work, though still under his care and direction. — What 
the spirit of the rule now requires, is, that each super- 
intendent, or the preacher w r ho has the chief care of 
a circuit, and whose name stands the first in the print- 
ed minutes, shall act in subordination to the rules and 
orders of the conference ; and that the other preacher 
or preachers in the circuit shall act in conformity to his 
directions, in all their labours, so long as he requires 
nothing contrary to the rules of the conference. And 
this is a matter of great importance. Opposition to the 
superintendent, and forming a party against him, might 
be productive of very great evils. And for a superin- 
tendent to lord it over his brethren ; capriciously to ex- 
ercise his delegated authority, or to assume more au- 
thority than the conference had conferred upon him, 
or the bible would warrant, would also be a very inju* 
rious and improper thing. 

Tlie Office of a Superintendent 
It is, " To see that the other preachers in the cir- 



236 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

cuit behave well, and want nothing." In other words^ 
he is to watch over the conduct and characters of his 
helpers, both as Christians and as itinerant Methodist 
preachers. And he is to use his best endeavours, that 
all their reasonable wants be supplied, and also the 
wants of their families, if they have families. It is 
also the office of the superintendent to make and alter 
the plan of the circuit, and that both for the local and 
travelling preachers. And it is chiefly by acting accor- 
ding to such a plan, that they do that part of the work, 
and at the times and places required, in literal conform- 
ity to the twelfth rule. It is also the province of the 
superintendent to fix the order of renewing the society 
tickets, and to give them all himself, if he be so incli- 
ned. But this he seldom does : and in many places it 
would be very inconvenient and difficult, if not alto- 
gether impracticable. The other preachers therefore, 
take a shares and this has now been sanctioned by 
long and general custom. It is his business to propose 
persons for admission into, and exclusion from the soci- 
ety ; to propose persons to be admitted as local preach- 
ers; to propose new society and circuit stewards; to 
propose at the quarterly meeting and district meeting, 
persons to be taken out as travelling preachers. It is 
his office to fix the time of the love-feasts, and watch- 
nights ; to require the society and circuit stewards to 
show him how their accounts stand, at least once every 
year ; to send to our book steward for such books as 
are wanted in his circuit, and to account for them. Also 
to ^jl the time, and arrange the methods, with his help- 
ers, for making all the usual collections ; viz. that for 
Kingswood-school, the yearly collection, that for the 
missions, and that for the preachers' fund. And to ac- 
count for the money raised by each collection. And if 
any chapel in his circuit requires a collection in any 
other circuit or circuits, it is his business to go and 
make such collection, or prevail upon his helper or 
helpers to supply his lack of service. It is his business 
also, upon divers occasions, to meet the trustees of the 
different chapels, and sometimes to examine their ac- 
counts. Also to give certificates, or testimonials, to 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 237 

persons removing into other circuits. To regulate the 
bands, and also the meetings of what is called the body 
bands, and also the select band. He is to take a list of 
all the societies in his circuit at the end of each year* 
and to leave his successor a regular account thereof. 
To fix the time of the quarterly meetings, and to pre- 
side at those meetings. The most important and ne- 
cessary qualifications for a superintendent, are, That 
he walk closely with God, and have his work greatly 
at heart; that he understand and love the Methodist 
discipline. To these we may add, a thorough know- 
ledge of the history and the doctrines of Methodism, 
and great self-command will be of great advantage to 
him in his office. Lastly, he should unite in himself 
great firmness, great prudence, a peaceable disposition, 
and genuine piety. 

The General Office of a Preacher, 

Is, 1- To preach twice or thrice every sabbath- 
day, and once or twice on each of the week-days. In 
addition to this he has to travel from place to place in 
his circuit, sometimes riding and sometimes walking. 

2. After he has done preaching in the evening, he 
frequently meets the society, and delivers such advice 
as he thinks proper. 

Giving of the Tickets, 

In December, March, June, and September, the 
tickets are renewed. And in the large circuits espe- 
cially, this greatly adds to the preacher's labour, yet it 
is a work of importance and general advantage to the 
societies. The tickets are printed at our own press in 
London, with a text of scripture upon them, which is 
varied each quarter, and a letter of the alphabet, going 
regularly through, and then beginning again. Two 
out of every ten have a small b upon them, in addition 
to the other letter ; these are designed to be given to 
auch as meet in band. And are in the following form 



%S8 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

Band Ticket. Class Ticket. 

March, 1811. March, 1811. 

* Then shall ye remem- % *g Turn ye at my re- jj» 

?£ ber your own evil ways, ^ *g proof; behold, I will ^ 

35 and your doings that ~£ l^ pour out my Spirit ''£ 

% were not good, and % ^ unto you, I will make * 

a shall loathe^y our selves ^ ^ known my words unto % 

$ in your own sight, &c. ^ $ you. % 

§ Ezek. xxxvi 31. § ft Prov. i. 23. 1 

| S3 11 S I 

Tfto. Unwin. Jos. Cooper. 

The tickets are the same each quarter, all over the 
connexion. At the time of giving the tickets, the 
preacher sees by the usual marks, whether the mem- 
bers have met well or ill ; and if they have not met 
well, he inquires into the cause. He speaks to each 
person respecting his or her religious experience, much 
in the way that a leader speaks to each member in his 
class. He blots out the names of any who have left 
the society, or any who have been judged unfit to be 
continued members; and also sets down the names of 
new members. 

In some places the preacher has to meet the bands, 
after he has done preaching. A band seldom consists 
of more than three or four persons. These persons are 
supposed to be nearly in the same state of grace, or in 
other words, their attainments in religion are supposed 
to be nearly equal, And the bands do not consist of 
men and women together, as in many of the classes, 
but men only, and women only, are in the bands. 

Now the meeting called " the band" or " the body 
band" consists of as many persons as belong to any or 
all the bands in that society. Besides a little time 
spent in singing and prayer, the rest of the time is em- 
ployed in speaking their religious experience. At 
these meetings the people are not spoken to, one by 
one, as at a class-meeting, but every one speaks, or re* 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 23£ 

mains silent, as they are disposed. The officiating 
preacher presides at the meeting of the bands. 

Love-Feasts, 

In the principal societies, there is a love-Feast every 
quarter. In many smaller places it is not more than 
twice, or perhaps only once a year ; and in many lit- 
tle places not at all. To get admission into love-feast, 
the different persons must show the last ticket they 
received to the person or persons standing at the door, 
and the ticket must not have been received above three 
months before. Without this, the door-keepers are not 
to admit any person. Only, should they have lost or 
forgotten their tickets, the preacher, upon being applied 
to, may give them a note of admittance, which they 
deliver up to the door-keeper. 

The preachers also frequently give notes of admit- 
tance to some persons who are not members of society, 
but who may come recommended by a leader, or some 
other well known and respectable member. We have 
a positive rule, that no person, not a member of the so- 
ciety, shall be admitted more than once to a love-feast, 
The Methodists think, that love-feasts were of apos- 
tolic institution. They are mentioned in the 12th 
verse of the epistle of Jude, " These are spots in your 
feasts of love," or love-feasts. And some think that 
the true reading of 2 Pet. ii. 13. is, " Sporting them- 
selves in their love feasts." In modern times, the Mo- 
ravians and Methodists are the only Christians, at 
least in this part of the globe, who hold love-feasts. — - 
Among the Moravians, the general refreshment made 
use of by them, at love feasts, is tea. And upon these 
occasions they read the accounts of the success of their 
missions in the different parts of the world. The Me- 

! thodists, at these meetings, take only bread and water. 

5 The love-feast is both begun and ended by singing and 
prayer; a travelling preacher presiding. The time is 

; chiefly taken up in relating Christian experience. Any 

i person may speak who chooses. They are generally 
very agreeable, edifying, and refreshing seasons. They 
tend to promote piety, mutual affection, and zeal. A 



240 A THUB AND COMPLETE 






collection is made, the first object of which is to pay 
for the bread used on the occasion ; and the surplus is 
divided among the poor members of the society where 
the love-feast is held. 

Watch-Nights. 

It may be proper to give some account of a watch- 
night. When these are kent according to their original 
design, and the practice of Mr. Wesley, they do not 
conclude till midnight. In many places, however, 
they have of late begun and concluded earlier. A 
watch-night, that is held till midnight, usually begins 
about half past eight o'clock. The service consists of 
a short suituable sermon, and then the rest of the time 
is occupied in alternate singing and prayer. For this 
service we have an appropriate set of hymns. How- 
ever, it is common, in addition to the sermon at the 
beginning, for some other preacher, or preachers, to 
give a word of exhortation at intervals. These seasons 
are generally very solemn and impressive. 

Circuits, Districts, and District Meetings. 

A circuit consists of a number of places, at each of 
which there is a society. These circuits are sometimes 
smaller and sometimes larger, in some cases having two., 
in some three or four, and in some very rare cases, five 
preachers. In these circuits, the preachers go round 
according to a fixed plan. In some part of the circuit, 
where there is the largest society, reside the families of 
the married preachers. This is termed the head place 
in the circuit. The whole circuit generally goes by 
the name of this place. For in naming the circuits in 
our minutes, we do not mention all the places, but only 
me place in a circuit. In some cases, one preacher's 
family resides at one place, and another at another in 
the same circuit. 

A district comprises several circuits, frequently about 
five or six. In each district, there is a chairman, cho- 
sen at the conference, by ballot, after all the names of 
the preachers in such a district are read over. All the 



PO&TRAITURE OF METHODISM. c Md 

preachers of the district form a committee. Except -in 
extraordinary occurrences, each committee does meet 
but once a year, that is, a few weeks before or imme- 
diately after the midsummer quarterly meetings,, In 
case any preacher should have any serious accusation 
brought against him, or any thing very important hap- 
pening in any circuit in the district, which cannot well 
be settled without the committee being convened, the 
chairman fixes the time and place of meeting, and in 
forms each member of the committee accordingly. 
When trustees, &c. accuse a preacher of immorality, 
preaching false doctrine, or acting contrary to the rules 
of discipline, they have a power of convening a district 
meeting, as will be shown in some of the following pages. 
At these extraordinary, and also at the annual district 
meetings, in all disputed cases, a majority of votes is 
decisive ; only all the decisions of the district meetings 
are laid before the ensuing conference ; and there are 
confirmed, rejected, or modified. The chairman of the 
district presides at these meetings : and a secretary is 
chosen by ballot at the time, to record all the determi- 
nations, one copy of which is taken to the conference, 
and another is inscribed in a book kept in each district 
for the purpose. These meetings hold a day, a day 
and a half, or two days : seldom more. At these times, 
there is preaching both evening and morning. 

The order of business at the district meetings is : af- 
ter singing and prayer, the chairman takes the chair to 
preside, a secretary is immediately chosen, and then we 
put down the name of each preacher present. This be- 
ing done, we proceed to inquire, 

1. Are there any objections to any of the preachers 
in this district, as to their morals, the doctrines they 
preach, and their observance of our rules? Then every 
preacher's name is pronounced in order, pausing between 
each, to allow time for objections to be brought forward, 
if there be any. 

2. What preacher in this district has finished his 
years of probation, and is to be received into full con- 
nexion ? 

3. Who remain on trial ? And how long have they 
travelled? And if any have died the last year, or desist- 

3; 






2*2 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 






ed from travelling, or are to be superannuated, the prop 
er question and answer is now inserted. We then pro- 
ceed to inquire, 

4. What is the amount of the yearly collection? And 
this being taken down, in detail, we next ask, 

5. What are the ordinary deficiencies? This includes 
all deficiencies in the usual allowances for preachers 
quarterage, quarterly allowance for preachers wives, 
children, servant, houserent, coals, and candles. These 
ordinary deficiencies are paid to those to whom they 
are due. At this sitting the stewards of all the circuits 
in the district are allowed to be present, during both the 
paying in of the yearly collection, and the payment of 
the deficiencies. 

If the yearly collection amount to more than the defi- 
ciencies, the surplus is paid in by the chairman at the 
conference ; and if the deficiencies exceed the amount 
of the collection, such deficiencies are claimed at the 
conference. 

6. The committee next inquire, what deficiencies of 
an extraordinary nature there are in the district. This 
includes all demands for removals which were not paid 
the last year; cases of affliction, that have not been 
properly attended to in the circuits where they have 
occurred, through poverty or inattention, &c. Here 
come in sundries, such as little helps towards furnishing 
houses for preachers in some poor circuits, and such like 
things. The district meeting is not allowed to pay any 
of these extraordinaries, though there should be money 
that would do it. But they are entered in the minutes 
of the district? and submitted to the decision of the con- 
ference. Generally the conference pays the sums pro- 
posed by the district meetings, and perhaps would al- 
ways do so if there was a sufficiency of money. 

7. It is asked, what boys, sons of preachers, in this 
district, are to go to Kingswood school ? What boys, 
that do not go to the school, are to receive the usual al- 
lowance from the collection ? 

8. What girls, daughters of preachers, in this district, 
are to receive the allowance from the collection for 
Kingswood school ? And in both cases we put down 
whether it be 1,2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 years of their receiving 



roRTRAlTURE OE METHODISM. 243 

it: because neither boys nor girls receive this for any 
more th#n six years. 

9. What chapels are to be built in this district the 
ensuing year ? 

10. What chapels in this district do we recommend 
to the conference to allow collections to be made for 
the ensuing year ? and in what circuits ? Then if any 
circuit be proposed to be divided, it is considered and 
determined upon : only none can be actually divided 
without the sanction of the conference. And now, if 
we have any new rule to propose to the conference for 
adoption, or any remarks to make upon any thing in 
our (economy, it is brought forward, discussed, and 
either agreed upon or thrown out. Then, it is asked , 

11. Who of us are to attend the conference ? This 
settled, and the names written down, 

12. Who is to go as our delegate to the committee 
for drawing up the rough draft of the stations for the 
ensuing year ? Each sitting of the district commit- 
tee begins and ends with prayer. The first sitting, 
each day, is from six o'clock to eight : The second 
from nine to twelve or after; and the third from two 
o'clock to near five. And in this the district meeting 
is an exact resemblance of the stationing committee, 
and of the conference. 

District meetings have authority, 1. To try and sus 
pend preachers who are found immoral, erroneous in 
doctrine, or deficient in abilties. 2. To decide con- 
cerning the building of chapels. 3. To examine the 
demand from the circuits, respecting the support of the 
preachers and their families. 4. To elect a represent- 
ative to the committee for preparing a draft of the sta- 
tions for the ensuing year. But the districts have not 
authority, 1. To make any new rule. 2. To expel a 
preacher. Nor, 3. To station the preachers. But, at 
the Bristol conference, 1808, It was agreed, That those 
preachers, who have completed the usual period of pro- 
bation, without any complaint being brought against 
them, and whom their district committee, after a strict 
examination, shall unanimously recommend, shall be 
deemed virtually received into full connexion, without 
attending the conference, But they shall be publicly 



24* A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

received at the first conference they can attend after- 
wards. 

In the General Minutes, page 41, it is declared ; that 
b If it appear on just grounds to any superintendent, 
that the chairman of the district has been guilty of any 
crime, or that he has neglected to call a meeting of the 
district, when there were sufficient reasons for calling it, 
such superintendent shall have authority in that case to 
call a meeting of the district, and to fix the time and 
place of meeting. The district meeting thus assembled, 
shall have power, if they judge necessary, to try the 
chairman, and if found guilty, to suspend him from being 
a travelling preacher till the next conference, or to re- 
move him from the office of superintendent, or to depose 
him from the chair, and to elect another in his place. 
Minutes shall be taken of their proceedings, which 
shall be laid before the next conference." This rule 
has never been either repealed or superseded, and 
therefore remains in full force. 

In the plan of pacification contained in the Minutes of 
1 795, it will be found ; That if the majority of trustees, 
or of the stewards and leaders of any place, think a 
preacher to be immoral in his conduct, erroneous in his 
doctrine, deficient in abilities, or that he has broken 
some of our rules, they themselves may summon all the 
preachers of the district to assemble at that place, and 
that they, and every other trustee, steward, and leader, 
in that circuit, may assemble with them upon the trial, 
and every one of these shall have a single vote in de- 
ciding on the accused preachers innocence or guilt; 
being in respect to voting upon a level with every 
preacher present, except the chairman, who may, when 
the votes are equal, give the casting vote. 

Any preacher refusing to be tried in this way, will 
subject himself to suspension till the next conference. 
And in ail cases of accusation a preaoher may claim 
the benefit of such a trial. 

The Stationing Committee, 

Consists of one preacher from every district in England, 
Scotland, Wales, and the Norman Isles, chosen by bal- 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 245 

lot at the district meetings. The president of the last 
conference presides at the meeting of these representa- 
tives, who meet five days before the beginning of the 
conference. 

A book is prepared, with the head place in each 
circuit written down in it, in the same order as in the 
printed Minutes of our conference, with large spaces 
between the names of the circuits, for inserting the 
names of the preachers, who may be thought proper 
to be appointed thither. This committee weighs well 
the cases of the circuits and of the preachers. Requests 
from different circuits, for certain preachers to be ap- 
pointed for them, are here read, and every inquiry is 
made, that every place and every preacher may have 
the most suitable appointment that can be made. — - 
Here a great many considerations of various kinds, are 
to be weighed and balanced, as well as possible. To 
suit every preacher y according to his views and wishes, 
and at the same time, to please every person among all 
the thousands in our numerous circuits, would be im- 
possible . Petitions for, and remonstrances against 
certain preachers, create the greatest difficulties this 
committee has to grapple with. There seems to be 
no alternative, but either the people must relinquish 
the benefits of the plan of itinerancy, or leave the fixing 
of the stations entirely to the conference. This com- 
mittee of delegates is dissolved as soon as the con- 
ference begins, and has no right to meet any more 
but by special order* . 

The Conferences. 

The Conference begins the last Monday in July 
every year, Its meetings are in London, Sheffield, 
Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, and Manchester, in regular 
succession. The sittings begin at six o'clock in the 
morning, preaching being each morning at five. As 
soon as the chapel is cleared of the congregation, the 
president takes the chair, and gives out a hymn ; after 
prayer the business proceeds. At the first sitting on 
the first day, we fill up the hundred who constitute the 
legal conference, according to the deed-poll made by.. 



2*6 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 






Mr. Wesley, February 28, 1784, and enrolled in his 
Majesty's High Court of Chancery. Vacancies, mor^ 
or fewer, occur every year. The hundred is filled up 
from the other preachers according to seniority. The 
hundred only vote in the choice of the president and se- 
cretary. The election in both cases is done by ballot 
The votes being counted, the president of the last con- 
ference (who always fills the chair till his successor be 
chosen) declares who is duly elected, and quits his 
seat, which the new president takes possession of.™ 
Prayer is then made to God, to entreat him to assist 
aiid bless us in the business we have to go through. 

We then choose treasurers and clerks for the different 
collections, viz. the yearly collection, the collection 
k'F Kingswood school, and that for the preachers fund. 
We also choose several committees for the expediting 
of the business of the conference, viz. 1. A committee 
to examine and digest the minutes of the district meet- 
ings, 2c A committee for book affairs. 3. A commit- 
tee for the affairs of Kingswood school. 4. A commit- 
tee to consider our temporal affairs, and devise ways 
and means, so that the expenditure may not exceed 
the income. 5. A committee to arrange the plan of 
collecting for chapels. 6 e A committee for missions. 

This part of our preliminary business being settled, 
we proceed, to inquire ami determine, 

I. What preachers are admitted into full connexion? 

The manner of receiving preachers into full connex- 
ion at the conference, I must observe is very interest- 
ing. 

In Mr.- Wesley's life-time the preachers were not re- 
ceived in public, as they are now. But the present 
plan is an improvement. Scarcely any thing so much 
attracts public notice, or causes sucli deep attention, as 
this public act. The president takes his station in 
the pulpit; and those who are to be received into full 
connexion, are placed in the front seat of the gallery, 
facing him. He then addresses each by name. The 
questions asked of each ? relate to their religious ex- 
perience, the doctrines they believe, and their willing- 
ness to regulate their conduct by our rules, and to en= 
force these upon the societies where they may labour, 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 2i7 

Some of them speak largely upon these subjects, and es- 
pecially as to the manner of their conversion, and how 
they were brought to undertake the office of a preach- 
er. These seasons are very pleasing and edifying to 
the congregation, and tend to promote pious zeal. 

2. Who remain on trial ? At the same time specifying 
how long each one has travelled. 

2. Who are admitted on trial? 

4. What travelling preachers have died during the 
last year? 

5. Are there any objections to any of the preachers ? 
Every preacher's name is then called, and time given 

for objections to be produced ; while the question is 
asked respecting each preacher in order. But it may 
be observed, that the district meeting is now the prin- 
ciple place for the examination of characters. Hence 
the old form of doing this at the conference, might per- 
haps be dispensed with. 

The districts might be taken in order, and each chair- 
man be called upon to read that part of the Minutes of 
his district meeting which relates to the characters. To 
thi?, in some cases, additional inquiry might be made, 
whether any thing had transpired since the meeting of 
the district committee, which required the consideration 
of the conference. This plan would be more consonant 
to reason, and the general usages of men, and would save 
a considerable portion of our best time. When the old 
method of calling over every preachers name was in- 
stituted, and for almost half a century after, we had no 
district meetings. Consequently, the conference was 
the only time for the proper examination of the preach- 
ers characters. — But this observation is merely my own 
private opinion. 

If any be expelled by the vote of the conference, or 
desist by their own choice, their names are mentioned 
in answer to the next question, viz. 

6. Who have desisted from travelling? 

7. How are the preachers stationed this year? The 
stations are then read, to which every one pays the 
greatest attention. 

The next questions are ; How many preachers wives 
are to be provided for, and by what circuits ? 



3*8 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

What members are there in the society ? 

Then comes on the consideration of the new regula 
lions proposed by the different district meetings, as re- 
corded in their respective minutes. And now, the 
committee appointed to read, arrange, and digest the 
whole, come forward and read their papers. Some part, 
perhaps the chief of the extracts are proposed to become 
the standing rules of the connexion. If there be any 
difference of opinion as to the propriety of this, it is put 
to. vote, and a majority of the conference determine 
which way it shall be. 

The various committees bring in their reports, and 
among the rest, the committee appointed to determine 
what collections for chapels shall be made the ensuing 
year, and in what circuits. 

Our book-steward appears with his accounts, and de- 
tails the present state of the concern, and specifies how 
much money he can spare us to add to the yearly col- 
lection, towards paying those parts of the ordinary defi- 
ciencies which were not paid at the different district 
meetings; also the extraordinary deficiencies recommend- 
ed by the districts; and lastly any expenses of removals, 
&c. which could not be ascertained at the time the dis- 
trict meetings met This is often a time of trial, espe- 
cially to some of the poorer brethren, who it may be, 
have little debts to discharge, and to start upon a jour- 
ney, and sometimes a long one, to a new circuit, with 
a pocket nearly empty. . 

Now come on miscellaneous matters, such as addres- 
ses from societies or individuals, on peculiar subjects ; 
the address from the Irish conference ; the state of 
Kingswood school, and various other things. 

I mentioned p. 243, that it was one business of the 
district meetings to determine who should attend the con- 
ference. As far as circumstances will admit, no circuit 
is left destitute of at least one travelling preacher during 
the conference. , Every member of the conference, as 
defined by Mr, Wesley's Deed of Declaration, and also 
every superintendent, has a right to attend the confer- 
ence, without being authorized by the committees of 
the districts.. But excepting these, no one ought to go 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 249 

to the conference without the consent of his district 
meeting. 

Then, and at other times, certain alterations will be 
proposed and made in the stations of the preachers. — 
At last, the conference breaks up, amidst the exercises 
of prayer and praise, and mutual and affectionate fare- 
wells. And perhaps no instance ever happens that 
they all live to meet again. Some have to go fifty, a 
hundred, two hundred, some three, or four hundred, 
miles, to their families, to pack up their books and 
clothes, and depart to circuits they know but little 
about ; but in most places they meet with an affectionate 
reception. The people ought to get great good from the 
constant change of the preachers ; for to the preachers it 
is productive of many inconveniences and painful exer- 
cises. 

Preachers Salaries. 

While a travelling preacher endures all this labour 
and toil, mingled with these trials, and many more, 
what pecuniary reward does he get ? What sums of mo- 
ney dees he receive ? 

1. In most circuits a weekly board is allowed by the 
society among whom the preacher's family lives. In some 
few places this is very good; in some but middling; and 
in too many very small. There is no fixed standard 
for this allowance ; and the variations are so numerous, 
that it might be improper to mention any specific sum. 

2. He receives 16Z. 16s. per annum, to buy clothes 
and books, &c. for himself. 

4. A married preacher receives 16Z. 16s. towards the 
support of his wife, and to furnish her with clothes, &c, 

5. He receives from 8 tolOZ. towards the board and 
wages of a servant. But this may be termed a gra- 
tuity. 

6. He is allowed 6Z. 6& a year to feed and clothe 
each of his children. Till very lately the annual 
allowance was only AL 

It is proper, and perhaps necessary to remark, that a 

I Methodist preacher does not make any agreement for 

any fixed salary, with the people among whom he la- 



250 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

bours ; that what he receives 13 raised by voluntary con- 
tributions ; and that if the stewards should at any time 
withhold from him any part, or even the whole of his 
usual allowances, he has no redress in law. On these 
accounts, I am fully of opinion, his income is not taxa- 
ble. It is not in either the letter or spirit of the law 
respecting income, to tax voluntary contributions or 
donations. 

The reader will observe, the preacher has the above 
allowances so long as he is " strong to labour" But 
when he is no longer able to do the work, which none 
are fully adequate to but men in health and vigour, he 
finds himself in circumstances far less comfortable. A 
clergyman of the Church of England, or a dissenting 
minister, however incapaciated for labour, enjoys his 
salary to the end of life. With a Methodist preacher it 
is not so. When no longer able to do the work of a 
circuit, his quarterage, board, &c. ceases.* It is certain, 
however, that a man in the decline of life, especially a 
debilitated man, needs an increase, rather than a dimi- 
nution of income. 

The Preachers Fund. 

The chief dependence of a worn-out preacher, under 
God, is on the preachers fund. Each man subscribing 
a guinea annually, a little fund is raised, out of which 
every worn-out preacher receives a small annuity.— 
And when the man is in very necessitous circumstan- 
ces, something more than the fixed annuity may be al-^ 
lowed, from what is so generously contributed to the 
preachers fund, by some of our more wealthy and libe* 
ral people in different parts of the connexion. 

1. Every travelling preacher, in full connexion who 
is declared to be supernumerary, or superannuated, by the 
conference, shall receive from the preachers fund the 
sum of twenty-four guineas per annum, the paymeflt to 
be made every six months, and to commence from the 
time he is superannuated, or made a supernumerary. 

2. Should he die and leave a widow, such widow 
shall receive an annuity of twenty-four guineas, undei 
certain regulations hereafter to be mentioned. 

* Thi& is not the case in America* 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM* 251 

3. Every annuitant shall subscribe one guinea annu- 
ally to the support of the fund, at the time of the confe- 
rence. 

4. No preacher shall be considered as a supernume- 
rary or superannuated preacher, except declared such 
by the conference, after being satisfactorily convinced 
of his labouring under some bodily or mental infirmity, 
which unfits him for the labours of a circuit. 

5. If any preacher, above fifty-five years of age, 
marry a woman under forty, she shalJ not, when left 
his widow, have any benefit from this fund. 

6« A preacher, expelled by the conference, or who 
shall voluntarily desist from travelling, or if worn out, 
shall not continue a member of the Methodist society, 
shall be excluded from all benefits arising from this 
fund, and forfeit what he has paid to it. 

7. Every member admitted into this fund, shall pay 
five guineas upon his admission. 

8. Every preacher who has travelled twenty years in 
this connexion shall, on being superannuated, or made a 
supernumerary, be entitled to thirty guineas per annum, 
in half yearly payments. But let it be observed, That 
the widow of any preacher, married to him after he had 
travelled twenty years, shall not be entitled to the an- 
nuity of thirty guineas, till she shall liave paid ten 
guineas into this fund, above what her husband had 
paid; but she will be permitted to pay these ten 
guineas by instalments of two or more guineas per an- 
num, above her annual subscription of one guinea. 

9. If any preacher die before he shall have travelled 
ten years, his widow *hall not be entitled to the annu- 
ity of twenty-four guineas, till she shall have paid ten 
guineas into this fund, only she may be allowed to pay 
it by instalments, as in the preceding rule. 

This fund, thus raised by the subscriptions of the 
\ preachers, and thus regulated by them, is distinct 
and separate from that raised by the subscriptions of 
the people. This latter is devoted to cases of particu- 
lar distress. But if any thing should remain after reliev- 
ing these, it i3 then given to the other fund. This is just, 
j as many people subscribe to the preachers fund, under 
a general idea, without knowing any thing about the 



252 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

above distinction, and who would specifically sub- 
scribe to what is Jcalled the legalized fund were they 
solicited. It should be remarked, that a man may be 
superannuated, who may have a wife, and some chil- 
dren too old to be entitled to any allowance. Yea, this 
may be the case, and some times is so, when he is enti- 
tled to only twenty-four guineas a year. With this he 
must retire, and pay house-rent, and find food and rai- 
ment for his family and himself. Again, a widow may 
be left with children who receive no allowance, to sub- 
sist upon the same sum. 

The General Collections. 

While I am upon the subject of money-matters, I will 
detail the particulars of all the general collections 
made among the Methodists. 

The weekly collections made in classes is applied to 
pay the preachers board, and to other incidental ex- 
penses ; all the particulars of which are regularly en- 
tered in the stewards books. 

The collections made at sacraments and love-feasts, 
are solely applied to the relief of the sick, and poor 
members of the society, after the expenses of bread and 
wine are paid. 

The quarterly contribution in the classes, when the 
tickets are given, is applied to pay the preachers quar- 
terage, with that of their wives and children, servants 
allowance, and travelling expenses in the circuit. 

The quarterly collection made in the chapels is added 
to the weekly and quarterly contributions, without 
which, in many places, the work of God could not be 
supported. On these occasions, our respectable friends 
who are not in society, have an opportunity of contri- 
buting to the support of that ministry by which they 
are edified. 

Collection for Kingswood School. 

In November, according to a late rule of conference, 
we make a public collection for Kingswood school, 
which is about three miles from Bristol. This school 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 2bt 

was erected by Mr. Wesley, and opened in 1748 
He designed it to be a school for the children of the 
Methodists in general, as well as for the children of the 
preachers. It was employed in this way for some years 
But in process of time, it was wholly appropriated to 
the education of the sons of our itinerant preachers. 
But as the daughters are equally dependent on their 
parents, it is deemed equitable, that they should have 
some allowance from the collection made for the support 
of that institution, during the same number of years the 
boys are allowed to receive their education, board, and 
clothes gratis, at the school. The term in both cases 
is for six years. 

And since the preachers are so increased in number, 
and their children in proportion, the school is not caj> 
able of receiving all the boys. Besides, some of them 
are at a vast distance, and it would cost much to take 
them thither. There are other reasons, of weight, at 
least with parents, which make thetn wish to have their 
children near them. Accordingly, it is allowed, when 
a preacher's son, of the proper age, does not go to the 
school, the parents shall receive twelve pounds a year 
towards clothing, and educating him. And this is a 
real saving to the school and to the collection, but a loss 
to the preacher. This school is entirely supported by 
the public annual collection. The children are taught 
reading, writing, accounts, together with the ancient 
and foreign languages. But a school, the oldest scholar 
at which, is not above fourteen years of age, cannot be 
expected to turn out many scholars of vast literary at- 
tainments. Yet several might be mentioned to their, 
own honour and that of the school. A good foundation 
may be laid, and frequently is, at this school. And the 
j conference in 1808, made a rule, that a boy displaying 
an uncommon aptitude for learning, should be permitted 
to stay at the school a year longer than the usual term* 
One of Mr. Wesley's rules for this school was, " That 
the children must never play ; and that a master must 
always be with them." 



254 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

Yearly Subscription. 

At the meeting of the classes, once a year, we men. 
tion to each class, what we call "The Yearly Subscrip 
tion." There is a column on purpose for the entrance 
of this, on the right hand side of every printed class 
paper. In this column we note down what each one 
proposes to give. We do not receive it at the time, 
but rather desire the leader to collect it in about six 
weeks, that two collections may not be too near the 
same time. The uses to which this collection is applied 
are various. In some few very poor circuits, the preach- 
ers can hardly get their food and raiment. In some 
other circuits, though they get their food and raiment, 
if one of them should have a wife, he cannot get the 
usual allowances for her. Some other circuits have 
two preachers wives and families in them, and can only 
do for one, or for one and a part of the other. And in 
some circuits, there are three families, when the circuit 
only supports two. In many circuits they support all 
the families they have, except in some few, particularly. 
Affliction sometimes seizes a preacher, or some part of 
his family, the expenses of which cannot be bor^ne by 
the circuit in which he is stationed. And there are some 
long and unavoidable removals; the expenses of which 
are not, and cannot be borne by the circuit he goes from. 
Otherwise it is our rule, that the circuit in which the 
preacher was last, shall pay his expenses to his next 
appointment. It is an essential part of the office of a 
circuit steward to see to this. For, it is not reasonable 
that a preacher and his family should make long remov- 
als at his own expense. " Who goeth a warfare at his 
own charge ?" Indeed in divers cases they could not 
raise money for this. All deficiencies, injthese cases, 
are paid out of the yearly subscription, at the district 
meetings and at the conference : that is, as far as this 
collection will go in doing this. Sometimes it will 
hardly defray half the demands. We add to it all the 
profits of our book trade, and then pay all deficiencies 
as far as the whole will go. And after all, the confer- 
ence sometimes breaks up much in debt. And who- 
ever considers the vast number of the preachers, and 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 253 

the very considerable number of families belonging to 
them, and the many contingent expenses inevitably 
arising out of the itinerant plan, need not wonder at 
what I say. Rather, upon due consideration, he may 
justly wonder that the deficiencies are not greater. 

Collection for the Missions. 

Sometime in the year, we make a collection for the 
foreign and home missions. The foreign missions in- 
clude those to the British dominions in North America, 
Newfoundland, the West-Indies, and Gibraltar. These 
are very expensive, were it only on account of the high 
price of their passage to and fro, especially in time of 
war. And so many preachers dying in the West India 
islands increases the expense, as others are sent to sup- 
ply their places. The success, however, has been 
abundant, and the money has been gloriously laid out. 
O blessed charity ! assisting to save souls from sin a&«4 
hell! 

The home missions, properly speaking, include those 
among the poor benighted Roman catholics in Ireland, 
those in Wales, who preach in Welsh, and those in dif- 
ferent dark, neglected, and very wicked parts of Eng- 
land. Great good has been done by each of these rnis° 
sions ; and every Christian, who has ability, ought to be 
truly thankful for an opportunity of showing his love to 
God and man, by assisting to promote them. The mis- 
sion collection is sometimes made in public, sometimes 
in private, and sometimes both ways: whereas the 
yearly subscription has hitherto been made only in 
private, in the classes; and the collection for Kings- 
wood school is made only in public. 

The Subscriptiwi to the Preachers Fund. 

Each year, just before we set off for the conference, 
we make in private the subscription for the preachers 
fund. But we do not mention this to the people in gen- 
eral, as we do the yearly subscription, but confine it 
« chiefly to a few of the more wealthy and liberal. Ma- 
j ny give to it both fiberally and cheerfully. This collec* 



, 



g&Q A TXJtm AND COMPLETE 

fion is laid out, in allowing annuities to those worn -am 
preachers and their widows, who never were members 
af the new legalized fwnd ; and in extra relief to those 
who belong to the new fund, but who labour under 
greater indigence and embarrassments than can be 
sufficiently relieved by it. These cases are nume- 
2>ous, and often call for prompt and bountiful relief. And 
can there be a greater charity, than succouring a feeble 
vorn-out minister of Christ, who has spent his health 
and strength in the service of God and his church ; or 
than displaying our affectionate and grateful remenv 
brance of such a man, by showing kindness to his dis- 
consolate widow ? Many of these widows made great 
sacrifices in becoming the wives of preachers, and have 
gassed through many trials during their itinerant life. 

Trustees. 

There is one description of persons among us whom 
I have not yet found an opportunity of noticing in this 
work : I mean trustees. 

When Mr. Wesley was erecting his first preaching- 
house, he was ignorant, it seems, of the best mode of 
settling it. It was long called the New-Room, but 
now the Old Room, in the Horse-fair, Bristol. He at 
first settled it oji eleven feoffees, but being convinced 
by a letter from Mr. Whitefield, that, as tbese men had 
the power of appointing the preachers, they could turn 
even him out, if what he said and did should not please 
them, he called them together, told them the error he had 
committed, and with their consent cancelled the wri- 
tings, and took the whole management of the building 
into his own hands. But after some time, he got the 
form of a trust deed drawn up by three eminent coun- 
sellors, for the proper settlement of the chapels. And 
it is this form, with such additions as circumstances 
have rendered necessary, which still continues of gen- 
eral use among us.* It will be seen by the form, that 
the trustees of our chapels are not proprietors of them, 
but put in trust to see that the chapels remain unaliena- 

See page 70, large minutes. 



PORTBAXTCRE O? METHODISM, 257 

ted from their original purpose. They are put in trust 
to permit such persons as the conference shall send to 
preach in the chapels for which they are trustees; in 
trusty to take proper care that no oilier, persons preach 
in such chapels ; and in trust to interfere in case any 
preacher should not preach the true Methodist doc- 
trines, though sent by the conference. Tliey have 
power to choose from among themselves a steward, a 
treasurer, &c. to receive all seat-rents, and to make a 
proper application of the money. In case of necessity, 
tkey have power to mortgage the premises, till the debt 
be paid off. And if it should be determined to build a 
more convenient one, they may sell the former chapel, 
and apply the money towards the new chapel. 

It may be proper to say something about settling cha- 
pels on " the conference plan." This subject has of- 
ten been misrepresented, and has frequently been a 
source of contention. But the settling of a chapel on 
what is called the conference plan, amounts to nothing 
more than this, that the chapel shall not be the private 
property of the trustees ; and that if any of these trustees 
should change their sentiments, or from any other cause, 
should be inclined to give the occupation of the chapel 
to some other party of professors of religion, they shall 
not have power so to do. The conference have never 
attempted to get any chapel made over to them, only 
so as to secure it in perpetuity for the purpose for which 
it was built. The members of the conference do not 
claim any property in any chapel ; they claim no share 
of the seat-rents ; nor do they pretend to sell, or other- 
wise dispose of these chapels. And they think the set- 
tlement they contend for just and fair. It has been 
chiefly owing to the labours of the preachers belonging 
to the conference that these chapels have been erectedo 
Most, if not all the subscriptions which have been, 
voluntarily contributed towards erecting these build- 
ings, hare been given under the idea that they were 
always to be used according to the first intention. ^ The 
trustees are under no subjection to the preachers. No 
man need become a trustee but by his own choice ; 
every trustee may refuse to act as such whenever he 
chooses ; the preachers cannot compel the trustees to ex- 
y 2 



ToS A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

pend any part of the monies arising from the seats in any 
particular manner whatsoever, but as the deed directs: 
and though the trustees are frequently under the neces- 
sity of signing securities for monies borrowed on the 
chapels, yet there has not been a single instance since 
the commencement of Methodism, of any trustee, or his 
heirs at law, sustaining loss in consequence of this, 
^Vhen difficulties have occurred which could not other- 
wise be got over, the conference has directed collec- 
tions to be made in different circuits for their relief. 
But should they not be relieved, it is provided for in 
the trust deeds, that they may mortgage the chapel, till 
i he debt can be paid off. 

On several accounts, the trustees of the Methodists 
chapels, as a body, are a most respectable description of 
men. And to convince them fully of the esteem and 
confidence of the preachers, the conference, held in 
1794, decreed, that " No trustee, however accused, or 
defective, in conforming to the established rules, shall 
be removed fro^n the society unless his crime be proved 
in the presence of the trustees and leaders." 

The following rules should be attended to in the 
building of chapels. — None ought to be built without 
the approbation of the superintendent ; and he should 
mention it to tfae next district meeting, get it recorded 
in the minutes of the district, that it may be printed in 
the minutes of the following conference. It was made 
a rule many years since, that no chapel should be built, 
except two-thirds of the expense were, previously sub- 
scribed. But this rule has not been well observed. — 
Perhaps it cannot, with propriety, be conformed to in 
all cases. However, great care should be taken, that 
chapels be not involved in insupportable debts. And 
it would prevent many unpleasant things, if the trust 
deeds were executed before, or at least soon after the 
buildings are beguri. 

The great outlines, and proper form of a trust deed 
im one of our chapels, is as follows : — " This indenture 

made in the year of the reign of our Sovereign 

Lord George the Third, of the United Kingdom of 
Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, 
&&. and- in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun? 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM* 259 

dred and between A. B. of C. in the county of 

D. of the one part, and F. G. H. I. J. K, &c. of the 
other part, witnesseth, That in consideration of the sum 
of live shillings of lawful money of Great Britain, 
by the said F. G. H. I. J.*K. to the said A. B. 
truly paid before the sealing and delivering hereof, the 
receipt whereof the said A. B. doth hereby acknowledge,, 
and for divers considerations thereunto moving, the said 
A. B. hath granted, bargained, and sold, and by these 
presents doth bargain and sell, unto the said F. G. H. L 
J. K. &c. and their executors, administrators, and as- 
signs, all that lately erected house or tenement, known 

by the name of the Methodist chapel, situated in 

aforesaid, together with all the ways, drains, and privi- 
leges to the said premises appertaining, and all the pro- 
j fits therof, with all the right, title, and interest in law 
! and equity, to have and to hold the said chapels and 
other premises to the said P. G. H. I. J. K. &c. and 
their assigns for ever. Nevertheless, upon special trust 
, and confidence, and to the intent that they and the 
survivors of them, and the trustees for the time being, 
do and shall permit from time to time, and at ail times 
for ever, such persons as shall be appointed at the 
j yearly conference of the people called Methodists, held 
i in London, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, or 
Liverpool, or elsewhere, specified by name in a deed, en- 
rolled in Chancery, under the hand and seal of the Rev. 
John Wesley, and bearing date the 28th day of Febru- 
ary, 1784, and no others, to have and to enjoy the said 
premises, in order that they may therein preach and ex- 
pound God's holy w T ord, and perform all other acts of 
religious worship. Provided that the persons so ap- 
pointed, preach no other doctrines than are contained 
in Mr. Wesley's notes upon the New Testament, and 
his four volumes of sermons, by him published. Pro- 
vided also that the same preacher shall not be sent to 
the said chapel, for more than two years successively, 
without the consent of the said trustees given in wri- 
ting. That the trustees shall have full power to choose 
from among themselves, a steward, or treasurer, who 
shall receive all the seat-rents, &c. which money so re- 
ceived, shall be applied tow^ds paying the interests of 



260 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

all monies due upon the premises, for repairs of the 
said chapel, and towards reducing the principal till 
the whole be paid. That in case of necessity, the said 
trustees shall have full power to mortgage the premises, 
till the debt contracted be fully discharged. Or, if the 
Methodist society in that place should be dissolved, or 
come to nothing, or if a larger or more convenient cha- 
pel should be wanting, then in either of the afore-men- 
tioned cases, the trustees for the time being, shall have 
full power to sell the premises, and in the latter case, 
shall dispose of the purchase-money towards building 
another chapel. 

In witness whereof, the said A. B. hath hereunto set 
his hand and seal, &c." 

The Committee for guarding our Privileges. 

This committee was first appointed at the conference 
held in 1803. In the minutes of that conference, page 
30, it is asked, " How may we guard our privileges in 
these critical times ?" Ans " A committee of ten shall 
be formed to attend on this important business." The 
purposes for which this committee was instituted were 
various. In some places, our congregations had been 
disturbed by riotous mobs, and it was deemed necessa- 
ry to seek redress by law. But proceedings at law 
require judgment and prudence. And that we might 
enjoy the benefit of these, the conference directed that 
this committee should be consulted previously to the 
commencement of any law-suit, and that if any law- 
suit should be commenced without its approbation, the 
connexion should not be responsible for the expenses 
incurred by it. 

It was appointed also to watch against any attempts 
to abridge our privileges by any Act of Parliament. — 
The training-bill was passed about this time ; and had 
it not been for the exertions of this committee, our 
people might have been compelled to learn the milita- 
ry exercise on the Sabbath, and even our travelling 
preachers might have been put under the instructions 
of a drill-sergeant. It is true, this committee has not 
always done all that might have been expected from 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 261 

it ; but at present it bids fair to render most important 
service to the connexion, by its laudable, judicious, 
and spirited exertions. The committee is appointed 
annually; and that appointed at the conference 1810, 
ponsists of the Rev* Dr. Coke, George Wolff, Esq. 
Christopher Sundius, Esq. William Marriott, Esq. Mr. 
Joseph Butterwortb, Mr. Robert Middleton, Mr. Joseph 
Bulmer, Mr. Lancelot Haslope, Mr. William Jerram, 
Mr. Thomas Allan; all the preachers appointed for the 
two London circuits ; Thomas Thompson, Esq. M. P. 
of Hull; Thomas Holy, Esq. of Sheffield; Mr. John 
Ward, jun. of Durham: Mr. George Lomas, of Man- 
chester; Mr. Joseph Dutton, of Liverpool ; Mr. James 
Ewer, of Bristol, and Samuel Popplewell, Esq. of Har- 
wood, near Leeds. 

Supplement. 

As there are divers other particulars relating to the 
discipline of the Methodists, but which I could not well 
bring under any of the foregoing heads, (and I wished 
as far as possible to pursue a regular plan,) I shall now 
gather up a selectian of the fragments that remain. 

No travelling or local preacher, trustee, steward, or 
leader, shall disturb the peace of a society, by speak- 
ing for or against the introduction of the Lord's Supper 
in our societies; or the old or new plan, so called. — 
Should they do so, they shall be subject to the trial and 
penalties before-mentioned, 1795. 

No preacher shall be required to administer the 
Lord's Supper against his own mind. And should it 
be allowed by the conference, where all the preachers 
of the circuit are unwilling to administer it, the super- 
intendent shall invite a suitable preacher from a neigh- 
bouring circuit to give it. General Minutes, page 56. 

Any new rule, made to bind the societies at large, 
if objected to at the next quarterly-meeting, in any 
circuit, the major part present, and also the preachers., 
thinking the observance of such rule would be injurious 
to that circuit, it shall not be enforced that year. But 
should a second conference confirm the rule, it will 
then be binding upon the whole connexion. In such 



262 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

disputed cases, only peaceful methods shall be pursued, 
1797. 

Mr. Wesley's deed of declaration requires that no 
preacher shall be stationed in the same circuit for more 
than three years together, except a clergyman of the 
church of England. But by a resolution of the confer- 
ence, it is determined that no preacher shall be station- 
ed in the same circuit for more than two years together, 
except in certain special cases. And, by another res- 
olution of conference, it is determined, that no preacher 
shall be re-appointed to any circuit, till he shall have 
been eight years away from it, 1799 arid 1807. 

It was also fixed by the conference, that no president 
shall be chosen again to that office in less than eight 
years. 

A member of our society removing into some other 
circuit, is not to be received into any other society, un- 
less he take with him a certificate from the superin- 
tendent, in these words, " A. B. the bearer is now a 
member of our society, in I believe he has a suf- 
ficient cause for removing." 

Let us disperse the "Word to a Smuggler;" expel 
all who do not leave off smuggling ; and silence every 
preacher who attempts to defend it, 1768. 

No person shall be continued a member of our society, 
who learns, or performs, the military exercise, as a 
volunteer, on the Lord's-day. But, meeting on the pa- 
rade in order tq attend divine service, shall not be con- 
sidered an infringement of this rule. And any per- 
son shall be excluded our society, who, after proper 
admonition, will, on the Lord's-day, continue a specta- 
tor of the exercise of the volunteers, 1782* 

In general, women ought not to preach among us. — 
(1.) Because a vast majority of our people are opposed 
to it. (2.) Because their preaching does not seem 
necessary, there being a sufficiency of preachers, whom 
God has accredited, to supply all the places in our con- 
nexion with regular preaching. But if any woman 
among us think she has an extraordinary call from God 
to speak in public, (and we are sure it must be an ex- 
traordinary call that can authorize it,) we are of opin- 
ion that she should in general , address her own sex t 



PORTEAITURE OF METHODISM. 263 

and these only. And upon this condition alone, should 
any woman be permitted to preach in any part of our 
connexion, and when so permitted, it should be under 
tke following regulations. 

1. They shall not preach in the circuit where they 
reside, until they have obtained the approbation of the 
superintendent and a quarterly-meeting. 

2. Before they go into any other circuit to preach, 
they shall have a written invitation from the superin- 
tendent of such circuit, and a recommendatory note 
from the superintendent of their own circuit, 1803. 

A preacher going on a mission to the West-Indies, 
or the British dominions in North America, is not to 
return home in less than six years. But should his 
health require it, he may pay a visit to the United 
States, or the island of Bermuda, Nova-Scotia, or New- 
Brunswick, 1802. 

If any member of our society apply to the quarter- 
sessions for a license to preach, without being approved 
of as a preacher, at the quarterly-meeting, as expressed 
by the seventh section of the general minutes, he shall 
be expelled from our society. And if any person may 
have already obtained a license, contrary to the above 
resolution, and attempt to claim exemption from parish 
offices, &c. by virtue of such license, such person shall 
be expelled from the society. 

The regularly appointed local preachers ', though a re- 
spectable and useful body of men, are not wholly set 
apart for the ministry, and therefore it is not consistent 
with the spirit of the act of toleration, that they should 
claim any advantage in point of exemption from offices, 
&c. because they are licensed, 1803 and 1809. 

Let the sums necessary to afford the usual allowance 
to the preachers children, be furnished by the several 
circuits on a regular and equitable plan : and in order 
to this, let the children in future be stationed on the 
circuits as well as the wives, 1804 and 1809. 

No person shall be permitted to receive the Lord's 
Supper among us, who is not a member of our society, 
without a note from the superintendent, which note 
must be renewed quarterly, 1805. 

No preacher shall marry during the time of hisprobar 



26k A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

lion; but when is that probation to be considered as ter -• 
minated? When he is received into full connexion,- 
either formally at the conference, or virtually, by being 
so entered on our minutes, 1806. Or, after being re- 
ceived into full connexion at the district-meetings, 
1808. 

Every local preacher shall meet in class, and conform 
to all our rules of discipline. In this respect, let none 
be excused. Let no local preacher keep love feasts, 
without the consent of the superintendent, nor in any 
wise interfere with the business of the superintendent. 
Let every one keep his own place, and attend to the 
duties of his station. General Minutes, page 13 and 
14. 

Every preacher shall be considered as a supernumera- 
ry, for four years after he is no longer able to take a 
circuit, and after that, shall be deemed superannuated. 
Ibid, page 55. 

Every superintendent shall be at liberty to attend 
the conference or not. But in case of absence, he 
thall send all necessary papers by the representative of 
his district V Ibid, page 55. 

No circuit shall be divided without the consent of 
the quarterly-meeting, the district-meeting, the com- 
mittee of delegates, and the conference. Ibid, page 55. 

Every preacher, prior to his being admitted into full 
connexion, shall write an account of his life, and give 
it to the editor of our books. Ibid, page 56. 

At the conference, all letters not directed to, or be- 
longing to the president, or the committee of delegates, 
are to be paid for by the circuits from which the preach- 
ers come. And the keeping of all the horses are to be 
paid for in the same way. Ibid, page 56. 

The Book-Trade. 

It may be proper in this place, to give some account 
|>f the book-trade, which originated with Mr. Wesley* 
ile published mamy books of his own composition, be- 
sides those which he extracted from other authors. I 
* ave mentioned before, how the profits of these publica- 
tions were disposed of, so that when he^died he had little 



POKTKArtTJRE OF METHODISM. 265 

more than his clothes and his books. His books con- 
sisted partly of his own private library, and partly the 
stock which he had upon sale, in the book-room, to- 
gether with a printing-office, types, printing-presses, &e„ 

These books, and printing materials, constituted the 
chief subjects of his last will and testament, of which I 
here insert a complete copy. What those books were, 
the reader will best learn from the catalogue of the books 
now sold under the authority and direction of the con* 
ference : a copy of which follows Mr. Wesley's will. 
But those books which have been published since Mr, 
Wesley's death, I have distinguished by a * in the mar- 
gin. Our sale of books is much enlarged, which may be 
accounted for by the increase of our societies. But the 
whole of the profits are appropriated to the support 6f 
the gospel. Our book-trade is not the private property 
of any man. And those who have the trouble of con- 
ducting it, receive nothing but their wages for their la- 
bour. The preachers, who are the chief venders of our 
books, in the different circuits, have less than half the 
common allowance made to booksellers for their trouble. 
Considering the vast quantity of books sold by the 
agents of the conference, the smallness of the commis- 
sion generally allowed for selling them, and how re- 
markably little is lost by bad debts ; it is easy to see 
that the book-room must afford considerable pecuniary 
aid to the connexion. But, whatever profits are derived 
from it, they are applied to help the poorer circuits, to 
relieve the distresses of the preachers and their families, 
and in evangelizing the inhabitants of the British em- 
pire. While it is an institution, calculated to do the 
greatest good, in diffusing religious and useful instruc- 
tion : it is, as it respects the profit of it, one of the nob- 
lest charities, and produces .a fund of the most beneficial 
description. 

For the better management of the book-concern, 
the conference appoints " the book-committee" It con- 
sists of the editor, the book-steward, and all the preach- 
ers stationed in London, for the time being. This 
committee when met t determines when a new edition 
of any of the books belonging to the conference shall 
be printed; when the price of a»y of them shall be rais- 



266 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

ed ; when any new work, which may be offered in man- 
uscript, shall be accepted and printed ; and, in short, 
all matters relating to the book-trade. 

Mr. Wesley's last Will and Testament. 

In the name of God, Amen ! 

I John Wesley, clerk, sometime Fellow of Lincoln 
College, Oxford, revoking all others, appoint this to 
be my last Will and Testament. 

I give all my books now on sale, and the copies of 
them (only subject to a rent charge of 351. a year, to 
the widow and children of my brother*), to my faithful 
friends, John Horton, merchant, George Wolff, mer- 
chant and William Marriot, stock-broker, all of London, 
in trust, for the general fund of the Methodist conference 
in carrying on the work of God, by itinerant preachers: 
on condition that they permit the following committee, 
Thomas Coke, James Creighton, Peard Dickinson, 
Thomas Rankin, George Whitefield, and the London 
assistant for the time being, still to superintend the 
printing-press, and to employ Hannah Paramore and 
George Paramore, as heretofore, unless four of the 
committee, judge a change to be needful. 

I give the books, furniture, and whatever else be- 
longs to me in the three houses at Kingswood, in trust to 
Thomas Coke, Alexander Mather, and Henry Moore, 
to be still employed in teaching and maintaining the 
children of poor travelling preachers. 

I give to Thomas Coke, Doctor John Whitehead, 
and Henry Moore, all the books which are in my study 
and bedchamber at London, and in my studies else- 
where, in trust for the use of the preachers who shall 
labour there from time to time. 

I give my #oins, and whatever else is found in the 
drawer of my bureau at London, to my dear grand-daugh- 
ters Mary and Jane Smith. 

I give all my manuscripts to Thomas Coke, Doctor 
Whitehead, and Henry Moore, to be burnt or published, 
as they see good. 



1600? 



It was fouftd upon inquiry that the principle' sum due was 
01 



POBTRAZTURE OF METHODISM. 26,7 

I give whatever money remains in my bureau and 
pockets at my decease, to be equally divided between 
Thomas Briscoe, William Collins, John Easton, and 
Isaac Brown. 

I desire my gowns, cassocks, sashes, and bands, may 
remain at the chapel for the use of the clergyman at- 
tending there. 

I desire the London assistant for the time being, to 
divide the rest of my wearing apparel between those 
four of the travelling preachers that want it most; only 
my pellise I give to the Rev. Mr. Creighton: my watch 
to my friend Joseph Bradford, my gold seal to Eliz. 
Ritchie. 

I give my chaise and horses to James Ward and 
Charles Wheeler, in trust, to be sold, and the money to 
be divided, one half to Hannah Abbott, and the other 
to the poor members of the select society. 

Out of the first money which arises from the sale of 
books, I bequeath to my dear sister Martha Hall, (if 
alive) 40/. to Mr. Creighton aforesaid, 40l. and to the 
Rev. Mr. Heath <50l. 

And whereas I am empowered, by a late deed, to 
name the persons who are to preach in the New-Chapel 
at London (the clergyman for a continuance) and by 
another deed, to name a committee for appointing 
preachers in the New Chapel at Bath, I do hereby ap- 
point John Richardson, Thomas Coke, James Creigh- 
ton, Peard Dickinson, clerks, Alexander Mather, WiU 
liam Thompson, Henry Moore, Andrew Blair, John 
Valton, Joseph Bradford, James Rogers, and William 
Myles, to preach in the New-Chapel at London, and to 
be the committee for appointing preachers in the New- 
Chapel at Bath. 

I likewise appoint Henry Brooke, painter, Arthur 
Keen, Gent, and William Whitestone, Stationer, all of 
Dublin, to receive the annuity of 51. (English) left to 
Kingswood School by the late Roger Shield, Esq. 

I give 6/. to be divided among the six poor men, na- 
med by the assistant, who shall carry my body to the 
grave ; for I particularly desire there may be no hearse, 
no coach, no escutcheon, no pomp, except the tears of 
them that loved me, aad are following me to Abraham's 



268 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

bosom. I solemnly adjure my executors in the name of 
God, punctually to observe this. 

Lastly, I give to each of those travelling preachers 
who shall remain in the connexion six months after 
my decease, as a little token of my love, the eight vol- 
umes of sermons. 

I appoint John Horton, George Wolff, and William 
Marriot, aforesaid, to he executors of this my last Will 
and Testament, for which trouble they will receive no 
recompence till the resurrection of the just. 

Witness my hand and seal, the 201 h clay of February , 
1789- JOHN WESLEY, (Seal) 

Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said testator as 
for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us. 

WILLIAM CLULOW. 
ELIZABETH CLULOW. 

Should there be any part of my personal estate un- 
disposed of by this my will : I give the same unto my 
two neices E. Ellison, and S. Collett, equally. 

JOHN WESLEY. 

WILLIAM CLULOW. 

ELIZABETH CLULOW. 

Feb. 25, 1789. 

I give my types, printing-presses and every thing pefr 
taining thereto, to Mr. Thomas Rankin, and Mr. George 
Whitefield, in trust for the use of the conference. 

JOHN WESLEY. 



A 

CATALOGUE OF BOOKS, 

Published chiefly by the Reverend Mr. Wesley, 



No. I. PRACTICAL. 

1 The Holy Bible, with the Apocrypha, Royal Quarto* 

calf and lettered - - 21. 2s. 

* Ditto - Ditto - Demy Quarto H 4*. . 

* Ditto Octavo - - - 10*. 6d. 

* Ditto Stereotype Edition, 12mo. «• 7 s. 6d, 

* Ditto Pocket, 24's - - 7s~ 

clasps, 7s 6d. gilt 7s. 6d. clasps - - 8s. 

* Ditto Umo. for Schools - 3s. 9d. 

* New Testament, 8vo. 5s. 6d. 12mo. Schools Is. 6d> 
'32's Pocket, fine, gilt, 5s. 6d. 24's sheep, 2s. 
calf, 2s. 3d. clasps - - - 2s. 9d, 

* 2 Family Bible, with notes, by the Rev J. Benson, folio 

or quarto, in numbers, at Is or in parts . 6s. 

* 3 Dr. Coke's Commentary on the Old and New Testa- 

ment, 6 vols, quarto, boards, 9^. 10s. bound in calf 
and lettered - - - - 111. 4s. 

* Ditto - fine copy, on royal paper, boards 14/. 14s. 

* New Testament, in 2s. Nos. or 2 vois. boards. 4/. 4s, 

* bound in calf and lettered - - 41. 16s. 

* 4. Mr. Wesley's Notes on the New Testament, 12mo. 

3 vols, sheep, 10s. 6d. - calf - 12s. 

* 5 Mr. Wesley's whole Original Prose Works, edited by 

the Rev. Joseph Benson, to be completed in sixteen 
or seventeen vols. 8vo. price 8s. each, in boards : or 
to such as prefer it, in monthly numbers, stiched in 
coloured paper, at 2s. 8 d. each. N. B. Volume VII. is 
just published, 

* 6 Cruden's Concordance to the Bible, 4to. bound 1/. lis. 6d, 

fine copy - 21. 2s. 

* 7 Mr. Thos. Taylor's Concordance, octave, calf - 8s. 

* 8 Harmef's Observations, 4 vols, octavo, boards 21. 8s. 

* 9. Dictionary of the Bible, by Brown, improved by Mr. 

James Wood. 2 vols. 8vo. boards 1 8s. bound - 11. 2s. 

* 10 Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names, by the Rev 

James Creighton, B. A. boards, 4s. bound - 5s. 6d> 

* 11 Plea for Religion and the Sacred Writings, by the 

late Rev. David Simpson, A. M. 12mo. boards, 4s 6d. 
octavo boards, 8s. calf ... 10,?. 

* 12 Key to the Revelation, by ditto, 8vo. boards - 8s. 
IS Mr. Wesley's Sermons, anew edition, including all his 

Sermons extant, being several more than were ever 
included in the former editions, 12mo. 6 vols, sewed 21s. 
bound, calf and lettered • - » 11. 2s 6d, 
s2 



270 



A TRUE A$D 'COMPLETE 



A few sets of the First Four Volumes of Jlfr. Wesley 9 3 Sermons of 
the former edition, may be had in calf 16s. 

Single Sermons included in the above. 

No. 14 Three on the Law 

15 One on Original Sin 

16 — " Awake thou that 

Sleepest" 

17 —God's Love to Fall- 

en Man 

18 — Salvation by Faith 

19 — The Almost Chris- 

tian 

20 — The New-Birth 

21 — The Witness of the 

Spirit 

22 — Wondering* Thoughts ': 

23 — Early -Rising 

24 — The Trinity 

25 — Predestination 

26 — False Prophets 

27 — Schism 

28 — The Important Ques- 

tion 

29 — The way to the King- 

dom 

30 — Scriptural Christian- 

ity 

31 — Scripture Way of 

Salvation 

* 48 Mr. Fletcher's Sermon 

from the French, by Mr. Moore. Is. 
49 Mr. Fletcher's Sermon on the Phenomenon at the 

Birches, near Madeley - - - 8& 

* 50 Dr Coke's Four Sermons on the Duties of a Minister Is. 
51 Mv Pawson's Sermons, octavo, boards 5s. calf - 7s. 

* 52 Dr. '"Whitehead's Sermon on the Death of Mr. Wesley 3d- 
5} Dr. Hamilton's Sermon before the Conference - 2d. 
♦5 V Mr Oddie's Sermon on the Resurrection - 2d. 

* 54 Mr. Benson's Sermons, twelves, sewed 3s. calf, let- 

tered - 4s. 6& 
Two Sermons on the nature and de- 



3d 


32 One on Free Grace 


2& 


2d 


33 — Means of Grace 

34 — The Lo rd our Righ- 


2th 


2d 


teousness 


2cL 




35 — Sin in Believers 


2d. 


2d. 


36 — Repentance of Be- 




2d. 


lievers 


2d. 




37 — Call to Backsliders 


2d. 


Id 


38 — A Catholic Spirit 


2d. 


2d. 


i9 — Enthusiam 

40 — Cure of Evil Speak- 


2d 


2d. 


ing 


2d-. 


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11 — Ezekiel i. 15. - 


2d. 


2d 


42 — The Foundation of the 


Id. 


New-Chapel 


2d. 


Id 


43 — Preaehed before the 




id. 


Humane Society 


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Id 


l A — The Society for the 
Reformation of 




2d. 


Manners 


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45 The Good Steward 


2d. ! 


2d 


46 The Great Assize 


2d. \ 




47 Torments of Hell 


2d- 


2d 




! 


2d 
1 on 


the New-Birth, translated 





'55 



*56 

*57 
»58 



sign of the Gospel, included in the volume, but 
sold separately 

Sermon preached at Hull, on the Na- 



tional Fast 



— on the death of Mr. Mather 
to the children of the Metho- 
dist Sunday School, City Road, London. - 



Ad 

2d 
4d. 

3d 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM* 271 

No. *59 at the Opening" of Twickenham 

Chapel, on the sect " every where spoken against" 3d.. 

* 60 Two Sermons on the Messiah - 6& 

* 61 Dr. Clarke's Sermon on the Christian Prophet - 6d. 

* 62 Mr. Pawson's on Isaiah 1. 10. - - - 2dt 

* 63 Mr. Vipond's on the Education of Children, 

fid. fine '1st 

* 64 Mr Rutherford's on the Trinity - - 4J1 

65 on the Voice of of the Rod 4d\ 

66 Mr Walsh's Sermons, bound, 2s 6d. fine paper, 

calf 3s, 6di 

* 67 Mr. Edmondson's short Sermons, 12mo. boards, 

Is. 6ci. calf ------- 5si 

* 68 Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the 

Soul, 12mo. bound - - - - - 3»< 6d. 
a new Edition in 32's. bound, 2s. 6d. calf 3s\ 

* 69 Heywood's Fa.mily Altar, and Atmore's Sermons 

on the Lord's Prayer together, twelves, boards - 3s* 

* 70 A Discourse on the Nature and Design of the Holy 

Eucharist, by Dr. A Clarke 2s. 6d. 

* 71 Diurnal Devotions, by Mr. Rodda 2s. 6d^ 

* 71 * Reflections, Philosophical and Divine, for every 

day in the Year, by C. C. Sturm, thanslated from 
the German by J)i\ A. Clarke, 4 vols, twelves, 
boards 18s. bound - - - - 1/. 3$, 

Ditto in 2 vols. 3vo large print, boards - 1/. Is*. 

* 72 The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan, 18mo. 

bound, - , - - 3s. 

♦73 with Notes, by David M'Ni- 

coll, boards, 6s 6d. calf 8s. 

* 74 Mason on Self-Knowledge, bound - - 2s, 

* 75 Brook's Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices 2s. 

bound - - - - ~2s. 6d. 

*76 The Common Prayer Book, abridged by Mr. Wesley, 

calf, 4s bound in black, calf, giit edges - 4s. 6s, 

77 Prayers for Private Persons - 4c?. 

78 Families - 4d, 

79 Children ----- 2d. 

80 Fletcher's Appeal to Matter of Fact on Original Sin f 

sewed, 2s. bound, 2s 6cl. — calf, lettered - 3s, 

81 Address to Earnest Seekers of Salvation, 

included in the above, but sold separately - 6d. 

82 Law's Serious Call, sewed, 2s. — bound. - - 2s. 6c?. 

*83 Orthodoxy and Charity United, by Dr. Watts, sew- 
ed 2« 6d. — bound ------ 3^ 

*8i Death and Heaven, or, The Happiness of Separate 

Spirits, by Dr, Watts, bound - - • - Is. 6d, 

85 Bonnet's Conjectures on a Future State - - 2d, 

86 Baxter's Saints Everlasting Rest, sheep, 3s. 6d. calf, 4.% 
♦87 Christian's Walk with Cod, 1*. 3d: bavrnd 3*. 



%T% 



A TRUE AND COMPLETE 



No. 88 

89 

90 

91 

92. 

93 



Call to the Unconverted, Sd. bound 



Aphorisms on Justification 



Allein's Alarm to the Unconverted, Is bound 
Letters - 



Jane Cooper's Letters - - - - - - 

Mrs. Lefevre's ditto 

* 94 An introduction to Christianity, by Mr. Sutcliffe, 

boards 

*95 Andvantages of Christian Communion, by ditto 
96 The Christian's Pattern, extracted from Thomas A. 



1* 3d? 

3d: 

U 6d. 

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Kempis. bound Is. - red, Is. 2d - calf 

97 A Companion to the Altar, from Kempis 

98 Christian Sacrament and Sacrifice - 

99 Directions for Renewing our Covenant with God, 

100 Instructions for Christians, bound, 10d. red 
* 101 Rowe's Devout Exercises, red - 

102 Life of God in the Soul of Man, extracted from 

Scougal 

103 Reflections on the Conduct of Human Life 

104 Christian Prudence - - - 

105 The Dignity of Human Nature 

106 Nicodemus ; or the Fear of Man 

107 Bishop Hopkins on the Ten Commandments 

108 Extract from the Pilgrim's Progress 

109 from the Heavenly Foot man 

110 Edwards on Religious Affections 

111 Genuine Christianity - 

112 Nature and Design of Christianity 

113 Manners of the Ancient Christians 

114 Advice to Saints and Sinners 

115 The Doctrine of Salvation, extracted from 

milies - 

116 Jesus altogether Lovely 

117 A-dvice to Married People 

118 Mr. J. Wood's Friendly Address to Single Persons 



is. 



the Ho- 



119 

120 
121 

122 

12. 



Address to Methodists on Wakes, &c. 
Address to Class-Leaders 
Reasons for Christian Communion 
Caution against Intemperance 



Minutes of Several Conferences 

124 Rules of the Society 

125 of the Bands - 

126 Plain Account of Christian Perfection 
127 Account of the Methodists 

128 Principles of a Methodist - 

129 Character of a Methodist - 

130 Advice to a Methodist - 

131 with Regard to Dress 

* 132 Reasons for Methodism - 

133 Distinguishing iMa i ks of a Work of God 

134 Thoughs on the Work of God in New-England 



3& 
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lcP. 
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PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 273 

No. 135 Instructions for Children, 3d. bound - 6d. 

136 Tokens for ditto, 3d. bound - - 6d. 

137 Thoughts on Infant Baptism - - * 3d, 
138 on Godfathers, &c. - - 1-2 



139 A Word to a Swearer 

140 — - Sabbath Breaker 

141 Drunkard 



143 A Word to Protestant 

144 Freeholder 

I45 Malefactor. 



142 An Unhappy Woman 

Two Shillings per Hundred. 

146 A Word to a ^r^ ^ Five ^ per ^^ 

II. POETICAL. 

148 The large Collection of Hymns, for Use of the 

Methodists, sheep, 4s. calf, 5s. morocco - 9s. 

149 & 150 ditto - Pocket Size - - 24's and 32's, 

Nonpax"eil Letter, same prices, for the Pocket, sheep, 
3s. clasped, 3*. 3d calf, 4s. clasped, 4s. 6d. black, 
gilt, 4s. 6d. morocco, gilt edges, 7s. strapped, 7s. 6d. 
silver clasped 9$. 

1>1 The Small Collection of Hymns, bound, Is. 6d. clas- 
ped, Is. 8d. caif - - - - 2s, 

152 Hymns for the Sacrament, bound - - Is. 6<L 

153 A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, used in the Lon- 

don Chapels, on Sabbath Mornings, sheep, Is. 6c? 

calf - 2s, 

154 Hymns for all the great Festivals, and other occa- 

sions, bound ------- 2s. 

155 Hymns and Spiritual Songs, bound - - Is. 
The preceding three collections of Hymns may be 

had, bound together, forming a supplementary 
volume, corresponding with the larger collection 
of Hymns, No. 148. 

156 Scripture Hymns, by C. Wesley, 2 vols bound. 6s, 

calf and lettered 7s 

157 Hymns and Sacred Poems, by C. Wesley, 2 vols. 

bound, 6s. calf and lettered 7s. 

158 A Collection of Moral and Sacred Poems, by J. and 

C. Wesley, 3 vols, bound, 10s. 6d calf - 12s. 

HYMNS. 



159 On Redemption - 6d 

160 Everlasting Love - 6ti 

161 Intercession - - 3d. 

162 Preparation for Death 4tf 

163 For Funerals, large 6d. 
16 i small 



165 Times of Trouble - 

166 On the Nativity and 

New- Year's day 



2d 
2d. 

3d. 



67 On the Resurrection 3d. 

68 — the \scension - Id, 

169 — for Whitsunday 4<f. 

170 — the Watch-Night Id: 
The above may be had, bound 

with the Directions for renew- 
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374 A TRUE A3TD COMPLETE 

No. *171 A Collection of Hymns for Children and young per- 
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172 do. small - - 4d. 

17 > Milton's Paradise Lost, with Notes, bound - 2s. 6 J. 
1^4? Young's Night Thoughts, bound - - Ss. 

*175 Cowper's Poems, 2 vols. 18mo. boards, fine stereo- 
type copy ----- 9*. 
*176 The Grounds of Vocal Music - - - 4d. 
*177 Leach's Hymn Tunes. Part I and II. 4s. each 8s. 

*178 — Anthems, in Nurrbers, e^ch - - 3s. 

*179 Miller's Hymn Tunes, stitched 12*. half bound 13s. 6d. 
*180 Arnold's Tunes - - - 5e. 



III. HISTORICAL. 

*i81 Dr. Coke's History of the West-Indies, to be com- 
prised in 3 volumes, at 10s. 6cl per volume. 

182 A Concise History of the Church, chiefly extracted 

from Mosheim, by Mr. Wesley, 4 vols, sewed, 12s. 

sheep. 14s. calf - 16s-. 

*183 The Occurrences of Europe Considered, by Dr. 

Coke, boards - - - - 4s. 6d. 

*184 Chronological Account of the Progress of Litera- 
ture, by Dr. Clarke, 1 vol. 12mo. 5s. 6d. 8vo. - 7s. 

185 Mr. Wesley's Journals : 



Parts I. and II. Is. 


Part IX. - 


Is. 


Part XVI. - Is. 


Part III. - Is. 


X. 


Is. 


XVII. - 8d. 


IV. - 9d. 


XI. . 


9d. 


XVIII. 10£ 


« V. - lOd. 


XII. - 


Is. 


XIX - 8d. 


VI. - Is. 


XIII. - 


lOd. 


XX. - u. 


VII. - Is 


XIV. ■ 


Is. 


XXI. Is. 6</, 


VIII. - 9d. 


XV- - 


Is. 





The above Journals, bound in Five Volumes, calf and 
lettered, 11. 5s or in six Volumes 8vo. comprising an 
Account of the early part of Mr. Wesley's Life, and of 
his Death, his character, and various Papers illustra- 
tive of the history of the Methodists being the First 
six volumes of the New Edition of his works, now 
publishing, and which may be had separate, boards 48s* 
* 186 The Life of Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, by 
Dr. Whitehead, revised, 2 vols, octavo, boards, 
16s. calf and lettered ----- 1/. 

187 — - of Mr. C. Wesley, by ditto, boards, - 4$: 

|38 . of Mr. Wesley, by Dr. Coke and Mr. 

Moore, octavo 5s. boards ; neatly bound in calf 

and lettered 7s. 

139 The Life of Mr. Fletcher, by Mr. Wesley, sewed, 

Is, 6d. bound - * - - 2*. 



POHTHAIT¥RB OF METHODISM, 



275 



tfo. 190 



by Mr. Benson, boards, 7e. 

9s, 

2s. 6d, 



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191 Mr. John Nelson's Journal, sewed Is. 6d. bound 

192 Mr. D. Brainerd's Journal, sewed, 2s. 6d. bound 

193 The Life and Death of Mr. Walsh, sewed, Is. 6d 

bound ----- 2^. 

* 194 The Life of the Rev. Peard Dickenson, by Joseph 

Benson, stitched, Is, bound - - Is. 6J, 

195 The Life of Mr. Silas Told, sewed, Is. bound Is. 6d. 
9 196 Life of Colonel Gardiner - - 2s. 6d, 



A short account of 



197 Miss Gilbert - 6d. 

198 Mr. Haliburton - 6d. 

199 M. de Renty - 6d. 

200 Mr. J. Haime - 4c? 

201 Mrs. Harper - Ad. 

202 Mr. J. Janeway Aid 

203 Mr. N. Mooney - 3d. 

204 Mrs. Thornton - 3d. 

205 Mr. G. Ball - 3d. 

206 T. and S. Hitchins 2d 

207 M. Lee - - - 2d. 

208 Miss A. Gilbert 2d. 

209 J. Dillon - - Id. 

210 E Hindmarsh - Id. 
*21l A. Rogers - Id 
212 M. Langson Id. 



213 E.Jackson - Id. 

214 N. Othen - Id, 

215 T. Hogg - - Id. 

216 R. St. Quintin, &c. Id. 

217 T.Cross - Id. 

218 J. Newland - Id. 

219 H. Richardson - Id. 
No. 197 to 219, bound in 

2 vols. - - 6s, 
*220 Mrs. Rogers' Expe- 
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•221 Letters 6d, 

*222 Fune- 
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No. 2 20 to 222, bound in 

one volume, 2s. 6d. 

223 Narrative of the Penitent Thief, by Mr. Fletcher Ad. 

224 A short account of the persecution at Wednesbury 

225 A short History of Methodism 

226 A Narrative of the Work of God in New-England 

227 A brief Narrative of the Revival of Religion in Vir- 

ginia ------ 

228 A short Roman History, bound - - Is. 6d. 
*229 An Account of the French Philosophers, by T. 

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*230 Manners of the Ancient Israelites, translated from 
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A. Clarke, LL. D. 8vo. 



2d. 
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IV. CONTROVERSIAL. 

231 Mr. Wesley's Appeal to men of reason and religion 

232 Farther Appeal, Part I. 

233 Ditto Part II. and III. 

All the Appeals, bound in calf and lettered 
234 What is an Arminian ? answered 



^35 The Doctrine of Original Sin 



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276 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

No. 236 Thoughts on Necessity - - - Sd\ 

237 God's Sovereignty - - Id. 

238 — Imputed Righteousness - - Id. 

239 The Perseverance of the Saints - 2d. 

240 Considerations on Election and Reprobation - Id: 

241 Absolute Predestination - 2c?. 

242 Predestination Calmly Considered - - Sd. 

243 Scripture Doctrine of Election and Reprobation 2d. 

244 A Dialogue between a Predestinarian and his Friend Id. 

245 Two Dialogues between an Antinomian and his 

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246 A Blow at the Root, or Christ stabbed in the House 

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247 Popery calmly considered - - - • 2d. 
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The Rev. Mr. FLETCHER'S WORKS. 

248 First Check to Antinomianism, sewed - - 9d. 

249 Second ditto - - - .Is. 

250 Third ditto - - - . - U. 

251 Fourth ditto .... - ls.9d. 

252 Fifth ditto - - - - - 9rf. 

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254 An Equal Check to Pharisaism and Antinomianism, 

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255 Grace and Justice, sewed is. 6d. bound - - 2s. 

256 The Scripture Scales, sewed 3s. 4c?. bound * 4s. 

257 A Polemical Essay on the TwhvDoctrines of Chris- 

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258 An Answer to Mr. Toplady's Vindication of the 

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259 Remarks on Mr. Toplady's Scheme of Christian and 

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260 A Rational Vindication of the Divinity of Christ 2*. 

261 Socinianism Unscriptural ; left imperfect by Mr. 

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262 Portrait of St. Paul, a Model for Ministers of the 

Gospel, boards 4s calf - - 5s. 

263 Letters and Posthumous Pieces, bound 4s. calf and 

lettered - - - - - 4s. 6d. 

The whole Works of the Rev. John Fletcher, containing 
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PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. Z77 

Another edition of Mr. Fletcher's Works, 8 vols. 12mo. 

calf and lettered - - - 1/. 16s\ 

No. *263* Grace and Nature, a Poem, by the late Mr. 
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264 Mr. Benson's Remarks on Dr Priestley's System of 

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265 ■ — Essay towards the Proof of an Immor- 
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266 Answer to Dr. Tatham - - 6d. 

267 ■■ the Rev. Mr. Russel 8d. 

*268 — Vindication of the Methodists, ad- 
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*269 The Christian Observer Observed, and the Inspec- 
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*270 A Vindication of the Methodists from several pop- 
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*271 The Reconciler, by Mr. Thomas Taylor, boards 8j. 

*272 Goodwin's Redemption Redeemed, revised, by 

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*27 > Treatise on Justification, sewed 2s. bound 2s.6d> 

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275 Sellon's D®ctrine of General Redemption considered, 

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*276 Doctrine of Universal Restoration Examined and 

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*279 Hare's Remarks on Cook's Sermons - - Is, 

*280 » Genuine Methodism defended - 1*. 

*28i Sentence confirmed - Aid. 

*282 Letter to Home - - 6d. 

*283 Defence of the Doctrine of Assurance - 9d. 

*^84 Answer to Dr. Magee - - U. 6tf= 

MISCELLANEOUS, 

285 The Arminian or Methodist Magazine, which com- 
menced Jan. 1, 1778, published monthly . 6u, 
Complete volumes for the years 1795, 1796. 1797, 

1798, 1801, and 1802, to 1810, at 6s. per volume. 
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a a 



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All specific Numbers applied for are charged 6d 
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No. 286 Thoughts on the Origin of Power, by Mr. Wes- 
ley ...... \d r 

287 on Liberty, by do. Id. 

288 — on Slavery, by do. 2d. 

289 Primitive Physic, by Mr. Wesley, 25th edition, 

sewed Is. bound - Is. 6d. 

290 Dr. Tissot's Family Physician, extracted by Mr. 

Wesley, Is. 6d. bound - - - - 25. 

The two last bound together, 3s. calf - - 3s. 6d. 

291 Electricity made Easy - Sd. 
*292 A Dissertation on the Use and Abuse of Tobacco, 

by Dr. Clarke ------ 6d 

293 Wesley's Philosophy, 5 vols. 12mo boards, - 11. 

bound - - - - - 1/. 2s. 6d. 

*294 A Pocket Book for the present Year, Is. 3d best 

bound 2s. larger size . - - • 3s. 6d. 

*295 Watts' Logic, boards - - 3s. 

296 — — Improvement of the Mind, boards - 4s. 

*29T Dr. Clarke's Letter to a Preacher, with Extracts 

from Dr. Smith, &c Is. 6d. 

*298 The Exercise of the Christian Ministry, by the late 

J. F. Ostervald - - - - Is. 6d. 

299 Rules for Action and Utterance - - - Id. 

300 The History of Henry, Earl of Moreland, 2 vols, bound 6s. 

calf ------ 7*. 

*301 A Print of the Rev. John Wesley, by Ridley Ad. 

302 A fine ditto - ------ 2$. 

303 A fine Mezzotinto Print of the Rev. J. Fletcher, folio 7s.6d. 

304 A. Print of ditto by Ridlev, proof - - 4d. 
*305 A fine Print of the Rev.'Dr. Coke, by Ridley, 4to 2s. 
306 Proof Prints of the Preachers, as published in the 

Magazine ... - . 4^. 

*307 Ditto, as published in the Pocket Companion 3d. 

308 A Print of Kings wood School - - - 2s, 

Other Books, in general of a religious, moral, or useful 
tendency, which are on sale by the London Booksellers, may 
be had of Mr. Blanshard, or through the medium of the 
Pheachers in Ih^ir circuits in the country. 



The reader may desire information respecting the 
number of Methodist chapels. Of this I cannot give 
a full and accurate account* And if such an account 
could be given, it could not be interesting tQ persons in 
general. To most readers, tittle would be interesting 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 279 

e»xcept what fell within the circle of their acquain- 
tance. No general calculation can be exact. But 
after some attention to the subject, I think, upon an 
average, we may reckon five chapels to every two tra- 
velling preachers. This calculation includes smaller as 
well as larger chapels, and hence I conclude we must 
have not less than fifteen or sixteen hundred chapels. 
And this consideraton alone, ought to plead very forci- 
bly against any attempt to break in upon our order, or 
to abridge our present liberties, by any new restrictive 
law. And should an indemnification be offered for our 
chapels, who can indemnify us for the loss of our reli- 
gion and our souls. The great number of chapels, 
above that of travelling preachers, show also the great 
necessity and importance of the locaJ preachers. They 
are not only our fellow-helpers in the vineyard of the 
Lord, but the great nursery from which we constantly 
fill up the ranks in the itinerancy, and even increase 
the number of labourers, as the work increases. If 
Methodism, then, be the work of God, as it most assu- 
redly is, he that would touch the local preachers, in 
order to set aside or contract their usefulness, would 
touch the apple of God's eye. Zech. ii. 8. 

As the last chapter of this book has not so close a 
connexion with the other chapters, as the names of the 
Methodist preachers, dead and living, I shall close the 
third chapter with a list of them, or rather three sepa- 
rate lists. The first contains the names of those now 
employed by the conference, with the years in which 
they began to travel, placed against each name. The 
second, the names of those who have died in the work 
since its commencement, with the years when they set 
out, and when they died, on the left and right side of 
the names, as far as I could collect with any tolerable 
certainty. But in this list very probably there will be 
some few inaccuracies. The third list records the 
names of those who departed from the work, or settled 
a3 local preachers, and as such have been, at different 
periods expelled or discontinued. 



CHRONOLOGICAL LIST, 

ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED, 

ITINERANT PREACHERS, 

NOW IN CONNEXION OF THE LATE 

J2EV. J. WESLEF, DECEASED. 



A 


1810 Allen, Richard 


1765 ASHMAN, William 


1810 Appleton, William 


1766 Asbury, Francis 




1775 Allum, Duncan Mac 


B 


178 L Atmore, Charles 


17TS0 Brown, Isaac 


1782 Armstrong", Gustavus 


1768 Bardsley, Samuel 


1783 Armstrong", Joseph 


17ri Benson, Joseph 


1787 Armstrong 1 , Francis 


1774 Bradburn, Samuel 


1789 Anderson, James 


1774 Brettel, Jeremiah 


1790 Aver, William 


1776 Brown, George 


1791 Anderson, Henry 


1776 Brown, Jonathan 


1791 Armstrong", William 


1779 Booth, John 


1792 Arthur, John Mac 


1779 Button, George 


1792 Alcorn, Samuel 


1779 Barbe, Thomas 


1794 Alexander, James 


1782 Bogie, James 


1796 Aikenhead, John 


1782 Botts, Samuel 


1797 Averill, A^am 


1782 Bartholomew, Thomas 


1797 Atherton, William 


1782 Barber, John 


1301 Ad;yn, John Mac 


1884 Brackenbury, Robert O 


1802 Ashton, Thomas 


1785 Byron, James M. 


1804 An fire ws, Lewis 


1786 Black, William 


1804 Asher, John 


1736 Bramwell, William 


1806 Allen, James 


1786 Barrett, John 


1808 Abbott, John 


1786 Beaumont, John 


1808 Anwyl, Edward 


1790 Braithwaite, John 


2 808 Armstrong, Joseph 


1790 Burgess, Joseph 


1808 AuH, William 


1790 Brown, Thomas 


1809 Akerman, James 


1791 Hell, James 


1809 Appleyard, John 


1791 Buckley, James 


1809 Arm it age, John 


1792 Brignell. James 


181Q Agar, Joseph 


179 ^ Banks, Robert 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 



281 



1792 Bowes, Joseph 

1793 Barker, Jonathan 

1794 Browne 1, John 

1795 Blanshard, Thomas 

1795 Brookhouse, Joseph 

1796 Burley, James 
1796 Burdsall, John 
1799 Bunting-, Jabez 

1799 Bullpkt, William 

1800 Bennett, William 

1800 Bailey, Robert 

1801 Beswick, William 
1801 Bryan, John 

1801 Bradnock, Isaac 

1802 Butler, Stephen 

1802 Brown, John 

1803 Breedon, William 
1803 Blackett, James 

1803 Banks, Edward 
1814 Barr, William 

1804 Bumstead John 
2604 Batten, William 

1805 Burton, James D. 
1805 Bedford, John 

1805 Brown, Jonathan, jun. 

1805 Burrows, Michael 

1806 Bird, William 
1806 Britain, Joseph 
1806 Bamford, Stephen 

1806 Barton, King 

1807 Bumstead, James 
1807 Barrett, Eenjam'n 
1807 Brown, John, jun. 
1807 Barlow, Luke 

1807 Burgess, Francis 
1S07 Bustard, John 

1808 Baker, William 
1808 Bate, James 

1808 Brocklehurst, William 
1808 Batty, Edward 

1808 Bryan, Joshua 

1809 Ban well, George 
1809 Bryant, John 
1809 Bursey, Thomas 
1809 Beale* William 
1809 Blanshard, William 
1809 Bromwich, Joseph 
1809 Barrows. Joseph 
281Q burton, Charles 



1764 Costerdine, Robert 
1776 Coke, Thomas 
1776 Creighton, James 

1780 Cole, Joseph 

1781 Cooker, Thomas 

1782 Clarke, Adam 

1783 Crosby, John 

1784 Crowther, Timothy 
178 i Crowther, Jonathan 
1788 Cornock, William Mac 
1782 Crowther, Robert 
1793 Crozier, Robert 

1795 Collier, Joseph 
1706 Clandennin, John 
1797 Collier, Francis 
17 £7 Chittle, John 
1797 Campbell, Archibald 

1797 Carter, James 

1798 Campbell, Daniel 
1793 Clegg, John 

1799 Claxton, Marshall 

1801 Clayton, Isaac 

1802 Cutchen, James Mac 
1802 Cord, Charles Mac 
1084 Chapman, Edward 
1804 Crook, William 
18Q4 Cousin, Michael 

1804 Clement, Castor 

1805 Carter, Hugh 

1806 Copeland, William 

1806 Coates, John 

1807 Cheverton Henry 

1807 Cusworth, Joseph 

1808 Carson, Robert 
1808 Calder, Frederick 
1808 Cornock, Charles Mac 
1808 Carlton, William 

1808 Clegg, William 

1898 Cloaks, John Warwick 
1807 Cullen, John 

1809 Cooke, Corbett 

1810 Chapman, Joseph 
1810 Crosscomb, William 
1810 Carey, John 

D 

1769 Dixon, Thomas 

1780 Day, Simon 

1781 Donald, James Mar 
a2 



282 



A TRUE AND COAU'LETi; 



1785 Dennen, John 


1803 Etchells, James 


1787 Dall, Rohert 


1806 Everett, James 


1789 Denton John 


1807 Ellis, William 


1789 "Davie s, Owen 


1808 Edw r ards, Evan 


1790 Dean, John 


1809 Erskine, George 


1790 Doncaster. John 


1809 Elliott Nathaniel 


1790 Bowling Blakeley 


1810 Evans, David 


1791 Deverell, George 




1792 Dermott. George 


F 


1783 Douglass, George 


1785 Fish, W T illiam 


1794 Daniel, Mark 


1788 Furniss, John 


1794 Drake, Joseph 


1790 Fearnly, Thomas 


1796 Douglass, William 


1790 Ferguson, William 


1796 beaklns, David 


179o Farror, John 


1799 Decry, Henry 


1798 Finney, Robert 


>8£)2 Davie s, John 


1798 Fowler. William 


1802 Deny, Francis 


1799 Fielding, Joshua 


1802 Draper, John C. 


1 800 Foster, John 


1803 Doolittle, Thomas W. 


1802 Fair bourne, John 


1803 Dowty, Thomas 


1802 France, William 


1805 Davies, William 


1802 Foster, John 


1806 Dixon, William 


1804 Flovd, Aaron 


1806 Dace, John 


1804 Fletcher, Thomas 


1806 Dunbar, James 


1807 Farrar, Abraham E> 


1806 Davies. John, jun. 


1807 Fearnside. Joshua 


1807 Davies, Samuel 


1808 Frank, Joseph 


1808 Downing', Samuel 


1810 Flint, William 


1808 Dowell/Samuel Mac 


1810 Finlay, W r illiam 


1808 Day, Mark 




1808 Davies, Thomas 


G 


1809 Dalhy, William 


1780 Gibbon, George 


1808 Dixon, Myles C. 


1784 Griffith, Walter 


1809 Davies, William, jun. 


1785 Gaulter, John 


1809 Dawes, Mark 


1786 Gill, Thomas 


1809 Dodd, Thomas 


1786 Grace, John 


1810 Dawson William 


1787 Gates, Samuel 


1810 Dtrmid, Dermid Mac 1 


1789 Grant, John 


1810 Dunn, Moses 


1790 Gibbon, Edward 




1790 Graham, Charles 


E 


1792 Gower, Richard 




1793 Gloyne, Charles 


.176.2 Epston, John 


1795 Greenly, Charles 


1782 Edmonson, Jonathan 


1795 Gill, James 


1786 Evans, James 


1798 Gellard, George 


1787 Entwisle, Joseph 


1798 Gee, Thomas 


1790 EilioU, Bichard 


1799 Garrett, Philip 


1791 Emett, Michael 


1 99 Gilpin, William 


:*795 Edman Thomas 


18u0 Gartrell, James 


.1797 Edwards, Tncmas 


1800 Gregory, Benjamin 


1801 Elwarn, Geotge Mac 


180.2 Graham, Tliomas 



POKTRAIitffiE 0¥ METHODISM. 



28^ 



3 Games, Stephen 


1805 


1804 Gillgrass, William 


1805 


1804 Green, Edward F. 


1805 


1806 Grindred, Edmund 


1806 


1806 Gill, John 


1806 


1807 Garbutt, Thomas 


1806 


1807 Gostick, Joseph 


1806 


1808 Goodwin; Josiah 


1806 


1808 Griffith, William 


1807 


1808 Gilchrist, William 


1807 


1809 Green, William 


1807 


1809 Griffith, Joseph 


1807 


1809 Griffin. John 


1807 




1807 


H 


1808 


1767 Harper. Joseph 


1808 


1770 Horner, William 


1808 


1780 Hopkins, Robert 


1808 


1782 Holmes, William 


1808 


1782 Holder, George 


1809 


1785 Hunter, William 


1809 


1786 Highfield, George 


1810 


1787 Harrison, Robert 


1810 


1788 Hickling,John 


1810 


1788 Hamilton, William 


1810 


1788 Hamilton, Andrew 


1810 


1789 Hutton, Thomas 




1789 Hamilton, Andrew, jr. 




1790 Harrison, Thomas 


1778 


1790 Hainsworth, William 


178 > 


1791 Hardcastle, Philip 


1783 


1792 Hardacre, Richard 


1788 


1793 Hudson, John 


1789 


1794 Hicks, William 


1791 


1794 Mowartb, William 


1 1792 


1794 Hutchinson, Arthur 


1793 


1794 Hamilton, John 


m 4 


1796 Haileti, Francis 


1797 


1796 Hugiies, John 


1797 


179 Hodgson, John 


1798 


1797 Henshaw, William 


1800 


1798 Hare, Edward 


1800 


1798 Hodson, John 


1801 


1802 Howe, John 


1802 


1802 Hans brow, George 


1802 


1803 Hadoen, John 


1803 


1804 Hill, William 


1 OO I 

iuyi 


1804 Harrison, William 


1804 


1805 Han well, John 


1804 


1805 Haime, Chajka 


1805 



Hopewell, James 
Hughes, William 
Hughes, Griffith 
Hinson, William 
Hopwood, Henry S. 
Harrison, William, JuHa. 
Heaton, James 
Humphreys, Robert 
Hughes, Evan 
Hughes, Hugh 
Hyde, James 
Harrison, John 
Homer, William 
Harper, Samuel 
Hope, Samuel 
Holroyd, James 
Rollings worth, Joseph 
Hill, Thomas 
Hughes, Lot 
Hay mart, William 
Roll is. Edward 
Hal ding-, Wfllktm 
Hargrave Laurence- 
Hewitt, Thomas 
Hudson, Benjamin 
Harman, Jothua 



Jackson, Daniel 
Johnson, Robert 
Joyce^ Matthias 
Jenkins, William 
Irwin, James 
Jay. James 
Jordan, James 
Ingham, Thomas 
Isham, Thomas 
Jenfcin, William 
Johnson, Thomas 
James, Robert 
J agger, Jonas 
Isaac, Daniel 
Jordan, John 
Jojies, John 
Jones, Edward (1) 
Jones, WiJliam 
Jones, Edward (2) 
Jackson, Thomas 
Johnston, George 
Johnson, James 



284 



A TRUE AND COMPLETE 



1805 Jones, Edward (3) 

1806 Jackson, Samuel 
1806 Jones, Maurice 

1806 Irvine, John C. 

1807 Jones, David 
1807 James, John 
1807 Jamieson, Philip 

1807 Jones, Robert 

1808 Jones, Edward (4) 
1808 James, James 
1808 Jones, James 
1808 Jones, William 
1808 Jackson, Robert 
1808 Jones, William 
1808 Jones, William, jun. 
1808 Jones, Robert 
1808 Johnson, James- 

1808 Jones, Owen 

1809 Jones, John 
1809 Jones, Robert, jun. 
1809 Jones, Humphrey 

1809 Johnson, Edward 

1810 Jewett, William 
1810 Jones, Lewis 
1810 Jones, David, jun. 

K 

1782 Kerr, John 

1783 King-, John 
1783 Kane, Lawrence 

' 1786 Kay, Duncan 

1787 Kerr, Thomas 

1788 Kelk, Thomas 

1789 Kershaw, John 
1791 Kirkpatrick, Cleland 

1793 Kee, James Mac 

1794 Keown, James IMac 
1797 Knowles, John 
1799 Kidd, William 
1799 Kittle, Samuel 
1799 Kitchin, Joseph 

1802 Kershaw, Lawrence 

1803 Kittrick, William Mac 
1806 Knowlan, James 
1806 Kevs, William 

1806 Kyle, Samuel 

1807 Kemp, John 

1808 Keeling, John 

1809 Kaye, William 



1809 Key, Thomas 

1810 Killan, James 



1783 Lumb, Matthew 
1786 Lessey, Theophilus 
1788 Lowe, George 
1788 Leggatt, Benjamin 
1790 Lilly, Isaac 

1794 Langtree, Matthew 

1795 Leppington, John C 

1796 Laycock, Thomas 
1799 Leach, William 
1801 Longhead, Thomas 

1803 Lee, John 

1804 Lancaster, John 

1806 Lowry, James 

1807 Lomas, John A. 

1808 Lazenby, George 
1808 Lisk, Joseph 

1808 Lessey, Theophilus, jr. 
1808 Lear, Samuel 
1808 Lynch, James 
1810 Livingston, Thomas 
1810 Ludlam, Thomas 

M 

1770 Mo watt, George 
1777 Myles, William 
1779 Moore, Henry 

1786 Mann, John 

1787 Mann, James 

1787 Miller, Robert 

1788 Murphy, Michael 

1788 Moore, Alexander 

1789 Martindale, Miles 

1790 Murdock, Archibald 

1791 Mahy, William 
1791 Mahy, Henry 
1782 Morley, George 

1793 Marsden, George 

1794 Moulton, William 
1794 Milward, Edward 
1794 Mullen, Daniel Mac 
1794 Muff, Isaac 

1796 Mayne, Carles 
1798 Midgley, William 

1798 Maugre, Nicholas 

1799 Miller, Edward W. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 



285 



1800 Mercer, John 
3800 Marsden, Joshua 

1800 Mahom George 

1801 Meek, Joseph 

1802 Maurice, John 

1803 Melsom, Robert 

1803 Milm an, Benjamin 

1804 Martin, William 
1804 Martin, Thomas 
1804 Martin. Robert 
1806 Martin, John 

1806 Mole, James 

1807 Marsh, Joseph 

1808 Mann, Joseph 
1808 Moody, Richard 
1808 Morgan, Thomas 

1808 Mallinson, Matthew 

1809 Mack, Robert 
1809 Morgan, Elijah 

1809 Morgan, Webster 

1810 Martin, Richard 



1789 Nelson, John 
1799 Newton, Robert 
1799 Needham, James 

1801 Nesbitt, John 

1802 Navlor, William 

1802 Nicholl, David Mac 

1803 Nother, William 

1803 Newton, Jacob 

1804 Newton John 

1808 Newton, Thomas, sen. 

1808 Newton, Thomas, jun. 

1809 Nelson, John, jun. 

1810 Newby, Thomas 
1810 Nicholson, John 
1810 Noble, Arthur 

O 

1782 Ogilvie, John 
1799 Ousley, Gideon 

1803 Oliver, Amice 

1804 Owen, Griffith 

1805 OlifTe, James 
1808 Odger s, James 



1771 Pritchard, John 
1784 Parkin^ Jonathan 



1784 Palmer, William 

1789 Paterson, Thomas 

1790 Pope, John S, 

1791 Patterson. Richard 

1793 Penman, James 
1798 Philips, John 

1794 Pearson, William, sefn« 

1795 PedJow, Duniel 

1796 Parsons, Humphrey 
1798 Pattison, Thomas 

1798 Preston, Thomas 

1799 Poole, John 

1799 Pindar, Thomas 

1800 Pearson, William, jun. 
18C0 Pontavice, Peter De 

1803 Piiter, Robert 

1804 Peacock William 

1805 Phillips, Richard 

1805 Pollard, Thomas 

1806 Parrv, Evan 

1806 Padman, Thomas 

1807 P/etty, Joseph 

1808 Potts, Francis Brook 
1808 Pratt, James C. 

1808 Price, Richard 

1809 Poole, George 

1809 Prosser, Joseph 

1810 Pearce, Peter 
1810 Phenix, Isaac 
1810 Pearson, John 
1810 Posnett, Leonard 
1810 Priestley, James 

Q 

1785 Queteviile, John J)e 

B 

1766 Rhodes, Benjamin 
1770 Rodda. Richard 

1785 Ridall James 

1786 Rober-s. Thomas 

1786 Revnolas. John 

1787 Re'-ce, Richard 

1788 Rogerson, Thomas 

1788 Riles, John 

1789 Ridge way, Thomas 

1792 Robbins, Joseph 

1794 Russel, Francis 

1795 Rought, Thomas 
1799 Rogers, Thomas 



A TRUE AND COMPLETE 



1799 Revel, Marmaduke 
1799 Roberts, Edward 
1799 Reynolds, John, jun. 

1799 Rossell, John 

1800 Ransom, Hugh 

1801 RadclifTe, William 

1802 Russel, George 

1802 Ruiledge, James 

1803 Rawlings, Philip 
1803 Roberts, Robert 
1803 Ranford, William 
1803 Remmington, John 

1805 Rogers, David 

1806 Robinson, Joseph 

1807 Rowe, John 
1807 Rogers, John 
1807 Rennison, William 

1807 Radford, John 

1808 Roberts, Richard 
1808 Rigg, John 
1808 Roadhouse, John 
1808 Rawson, John 
18t>8 Rowe, George 

1808 Roberts, Jonathan 

1809 Rees, Owen 

1809 Rutledge, William 

1810 Rose, Thomas 
1810 Radcliffe, Charles 
1810 Reiley, William 



1763 Story, George 
1768 Shadford, George 
1772 Snowden, George 
1777 Saunders, William 
17/9 Suter, Alexander 

1785 Smith, John 

1786 Stevens, Willinm 

1786 Sutcliflfe, Joseph 

1787 Stamp, John 
1783 Stewart, Matthew 

1788 Smith, Robert 
1790 Sargent, George 
1790 Simeonite, Thomas 
1790 Sykes, George 

1790 Shelmerdine, William 
1790 Simpson, John 
1790 Smith, William 

1790 Steele, Samuel 

1791 Smith; George. 



1792 Smith, Robert 
1792 Smith, James 

1792 Stephens, John 

1793 Scholefield, James 
1793 Shaw, Edmund 

1793 ^eckerson, Anthony B 
179 $ Stephenson, George 

1794 Simmonds, Caleb 

1794 Stewart, John 

1795 Stanley, Thomas 

1795 Sturgeon, Alexander 

1796 Sedserf, John 

1797 Stanley Jacob 

1798 Slinger, Thomas 

1799 Slack, John 

1799 Stewart, James 

1800 Stewart, William 

1801 Sterling, James 

1802 Simmons, John 

1802 Strong, Robert 

1803 Sykes, James 
1803 Sewell, Samuel 
1803 Scholefield, William 
1803 Sidserf, James 

1803 Slater, Barnard 

1804 Sutcliffe, William 

1804 SJugg, Thomas 

1805 Simpson, John, jun ? 

1806 Sibley, Nicholas 
1806 Sleep, William 
1806 Smetham, Richard 
1806 Squarebridge, John 
1806 Skelton, Thomas 

1806 Spink, James 

1807 Sykes, George, jun. 

1807 Simpson, Thomas 

1808 Stephenson, Humphrey 
1808 Saunders, Joseph 
1808 Sedgwick, John 

1808 Sleigh, William 

1808 Smith, John, jun« 

1809 Sugden, James 
1809 Sugden, Samuel 
1§09 Stony, John 
1809 Shaw, Jervis 
1809 Shaw, Barnabas 
1809 Stones, Williajn 



1761 Taylor, Thomas 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 



287 



ft77 Taylor, Joseph 
1781 Tattersall, Thomas 

1786 Townsend, John 

1787 Truscott, Francis 

1788 Tunnicliffe, Charles 
1790 Taylor, Samuel 
1790 Trethewey, Thomas 
1792 Trefry, Richard 
1792 Tobias, Matthew 
1794 Turton, William 
1794 Towler, Edward 
1794 Timperley, William 

1794 Turner, Edward 
1/96 Townley, James 

1795 Taylor, Andrew 
1798 Tinton, Isaac 
1798 Taylor, John 

1801 Trampleasure, William 

1801 Taft, Zach. 

1802 Taft, Henry 

1802 Thompson, George 

1802 Thompson, Edward 

1803 Tranter, William 

1803 Taylor, Joseph, jun. 

1804 Triffett, Anthony 
1804 Toase, William 
1804 Todd, William 

1806 Twiddy, Thomas 

1807 Towers, William 

1807 Towland, John 

1808 Tomlinson, Richard 
1808 Toogood, William 
1808 Talboys, Thomas 

1808 Tuck, Henry 

1809 Thomas, Thpmas 
1809 Thomas, Owen 

1809 Thompson, Thomas 

1810 Taylor, William 
1810 Thomas, James 
1810 Theobold, William 
1810 Thompson, John 



1775 Vasey, Thomas, sen. 
1795 Vaughan, Martin 
1801 Vasey, Thomas, jun. 
•►1806 Vipond, David 



W 

IT67 Wittam, John 



1769 WriglSy, Francis 

1770 Watson, James 
1773 Wood, James 
1979 Warrener, William 
1780 West, William 
1787 Woodrow, John 

1787 Wood, Thoinas 

1788 Wilshaw. John 

1789 Wood, Samuel 

1791 Wilson, Stephen 

1792 Ward, John 

1793 West, Francis 
1793 Waddy, Richard 

1795 Wood, John 

1796 Whiteside, Cuthbert 
1796 Worrill, Zach. 

1796 Williams, William 

1797 Woolmer, Samuel 

1797 Walmsley, John 

1798 Welburn, William 

1798 Wilton, Thomas 

1799 Wintle, Richard 
1799 Wilson, John 
1799 Watson, John 

1799 Wilson, John, jun, 

1800 Waugh, David 

1801 Ward, Valentine 
1801 Wilson, Maximilian 

1801 Wheeler, Robert 

1802 Waller, James 

1802 Warren, Samuel 

1803 Woodall, William 

1804 Walker, Josiah 
1804 Weir, Alexander 
1804 Wilson, Joseph 

1804 Womersley, Joseph 

1805 Williams, Jonathan 
1805 Warren, Thomas 
1805 Wrlton,John 
1805 Worth, William 
1805 Wright, John 

1805 Wheelhouse John 

1806 Wooley, Samuel P. 

1807 Williams, John, 1st 
1807 Willis, John 

1807 Willoughby, George 
1807 Warren, George 

1807 Wiggins, John 

1808 Webb, Samuel 
1808 Worrell, Joseph 



288 



A TRUE AND COMPLETE 



1808 Wilson, George 
1808 Watkin, Robert 
1808 Waugh, John 

1808 Waugh, Thomas. 

1809 Williams, John, 2d. 
1809 Williams, John, 3d, 

1809 Waterhouse, John 

1810 Worden, John 
1610 Ward, William 



1810 Ward, Samuel 
1810 Williams, David 
1810 Whit worth* Solomofc 
1810 WKItworthj James 
1810 Wilson, Robert 



1779 Yewdall, Zach. 
1793 Yates, Thomas 



AN 



ALPHABETICAL LIST 



OF THOSE 



E A C H E B S 



WHO HAVE DIED IN THE 

CONNEXION, 

AS FAH AS CAN BE WEIX ASCERTAINED : 

WITH THE RESPECTIVE TIMES OP THEIR ADMISSION 
AND DEATH. 



1766 ALLEN, John 1810 

1781 Algar, Joseph 1805 

1786 Atkins, John 180 V 

1794 Anderson, Joseph 1803 

1794 Ashall,John 1809 

1797 Allum, Wm. Mac 1810 

1809 Arter, Richard 1809 



1743 Beard, Thomas 1744 

1762 Brammah, William 1780 

1761 Boardman, Richaid 1782 

7b5 Burke, Richard 1778 

1766 Biackwell, Richaid -76T 

1767 Bricoe, Thomas 1797 
17H Boon* Charlea 179£ 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM* 



289 



lf/1 Brettell, John 1796 

1772 Broadbent, John 1795 

1772 Burnev, John Mac 

1773 Bradford, Joseph 1808 

1774 Barry, James J 783 

1775 Beanland, John 1798 

1776 Boothby, William 1801 
1778 Blair, Andrew 1793 

1783 Burbeck, Edward 1787 

1784 Butterfield, Wm. 1795 

1785 Bland, Charles 1804 
31786 Raldwin, George 1810 

1786 Baxter, John 1806 

1786 Bates, Samuel 1803 

1787 Burnett, John 1788 
1787 Black, John 1790 

1791 Bishop, Abraham 1793 

1792 Balleau, Francis 1802 
1800 Bocoek, Joseph 1802 
1800 Burkenhead, John 1803 
1805 Biggins, Thomas 1810 
1807 Bissex, John 1808 



1748 Catlow, Jonathan 1763 

1752 Crabb, William 1764 

1741 Coates, Alexander 1765 

1746 Cownley, Joseph 1792 

1762 Carlill, Thomas 1802 

1763 Gattermole, Tho. 1799 
J764 Coates, Richard 1765 
1767 Cherry, Thomas 1773 
1767 Collins, William 1797 

1774 Corbett, Thomas 1789 

1775 Crook, John 1806 

1779 Cornock, Wm Mac 1789 

1780 Crickett, John 1807 
1780 Cousins, Jonathan 1806 
1783 Cowmeadow, John 1786 
1785 Coleman, Andrew 1786 
1789 Cox, William 1810 
1794 Cook, John 1795 



1743 Downes, John 1774 

1742 Darney, William 1780 

1764 Dempster, James 1775 

1765 Dillon, John 1769 
1787 Dickinson, Peard 1802 
1767 Darrafa, John 1807 



1788 Dunn, Thomas 1802 

1790 Denton, William 1795 

1794 Dumpleton,Thomas 1807 

1795 Dutton, John 1800 
1797 Donald, Barth.Mac 1799 
1801 Debeli, Philip 1803 
1806 Denton, James 1809 

E 

1762 Ellis, John 1772 

1782 Empringham, R. 1793 

1788 Elliott, Thomas 1795 

1803 Evans, Henry 1803 



1755 Fenwiek, John 1787 

1765 Furze, John 1800 

1780 Foster, Henry 1787 

1781 Fletcher, John 1785 
1786 Frazer, Francis 1789 

1791 Foster, John, sen. 1809 

1792 Fenwiek, William 1808 
1795 Furnace, John 1801 
1802 Fisher, John 1809 



1744 Gilbert, Nicholas 1763 

1746 Greenwood, Paul "1776 
1763 Greenwood, Parson 1811 

1768 Goodwin, John 1803 

1768 Garnett, Joseph 1773 

1776 Gaffney, James 1779 

1785 Gamble, Robert 1791 

1786 Gore, James 1790 
1786 Gordon, David 1800 
1788 Graham, Daniel 1794 
1793 Green, Robert 1800 
1801 Gamble, William 1801 

H 

Holmes, William 1747 

Hopper, Christoph. 1802 

Hanby, Thomas 1797 

Hanson, Thomas 1805 

Harrison, Lancelot 1807 

Haime, John 1784 

Hunter, William 1798 

Hey ward, Robert 1804 

Harris en, John 1777 

Hoskins, Thomas 1778 



1744 
1747 
1755 
1761 
1766 
1767 
1767 
1768 
1776 
1776 

Bb 



290 



A TRUE AXD COMPLETE 



1780 Hodgson, Samuel 1795 

1787 He vvett, Thomas 1801 

1791 Hurley, John 1801 

1794 Harris, Samuel 1797 

1796 Haslam, Peter 1808 

1798 Hawkshaw, John 1806 

1799 Hallam, Joseph 1805 

1800 Hearnshaw, John, 1809 

1802 Harrison, William 1809 

1803 Haigh, Abraham 1810 



1747 Jane, John 1750 

1752 Johnson, Thomas 1797 

1754 Jaco, Peter 1781 

1761 Isherwood, Thomas 1762 

1761 Johnson, John 1804 

1777 Jackson, Edwar<f 1806 

1783 Jerom, Joseph ■ 

1796 Jennings, John 1800 

1797 Jeune, Francis 1800 
£799 Jackson, William 1803 

K 

1780 Keighley, Joshua 1787 

1784 Kersey, James Mac 1800 
1784 Kvte, Charles 1803 
1799 Keys, Thomas 1801 



1754 Lucas, Richard 1766 

1757 Lowes, Matthew 1795 

1758 Lee, Thomas 1786 
1763 Levick, Samuel 1771 
1773 Leach, John 1810 
1776 Lumley, William 1777 
1778 Livermore, John 1783 
1780 Long-ley, Thomas 1809 
1789 Lomas, Robert 1810 
1803 Linnell, Edward 1808 

M 

1748 Meggeti, Samuel 
1761 Morgan, John 
1776 Mealey,John 

1759 Manners, John 

1749 Maddern, John 
1751 Mitchell, Thomas 1785 
1754 Murlin, John 1799 
1757 Mather, Alexander 1800 



1762 Minethorpe, Wm. 1775 

1764 Mason, John 1810 

1769 Mott, Thomas 1773 

1774 Moon, John 1801 

1774 Mill, Peter 1806 

1781 Millar, John 1796 

1787 Marshall, Michael 1794 

1788 Mullen, James Mac 1805 
1792 Martin, William 1795 
1794 Montgomery, Arch. 1800 
1797 Martin, Charles 1799 
1797 Moses, John 1800 
1800 Morrison, Joseph 1808 
1804 Mill, Thomas 1806 

N 

1747 Nelson, John 1774 

1778 Norris, John 1782 

1778 Naylor, Robert 1783 

1790 Newton, Booth 1811 

O 

1758 Oldham, John 1766 . 

1753 Olivers, Thomas 1799 

1786 Owens, Thomas 1808 



1759 Pool, John 1801 

1760 Pennington, Williaml767- 
1762 Pawson, John 1806 
1767 Peacock, John 1803 
1772 Price, John 

1772 Payne, Thomas 1783 

1773 PercivaL William 1803 

1775 Prichard, John 1784 

1776 Pescod, Joseph 1805 
1781 Peacock, Christoph. 1786 
1784 Pearce, Benjamin 1795 
1787 Pugh, Hugh X788 
1794 Parsons, Thomas 1807 
1807 Parkinson, James 1810 

R 

1757 Rodd, William 1760 

1749 Rowell, Jacob 1784 

1759 Roberts, Robert 1800 

1762 Richardson, John 1792 

1765 Robertshaw, Jer. 1788 

1772 Rutherford, Tho. 1806 

1774 Sogers, James 1807 



TOilTilAITtliE OF METHODISM. 



291 



1776 Robinson, Jasper 1798 
1787 Roberts, John 1788 

1791 Robinson. Thomas 1793 

1798 Richardson, James 1799 

1799 Richard,WilliamAl801 

1800 Robertson, Wm, 1807 
1802 Richardson, Tho. 1804 
1802 Robinson, John 1805 



1747 Secombe, Thomas 
1744 Slocombe, John 
1742 Swindells, Robert 
1763 Shaw, John 

1766 Standering, John 

1767 Smith, John 

1768 Seed, Richard 
1770 Swan, Robert 
1773 Shorter, George 
1799 Simpson, William 
1785 Seward, Thomas 
1787 Sanderson, William 

1787 Sandoe, John 

1788 Stephens, John 

1788 Smith, Robert 

1789 Sanderson, John 
1794 Stanton, Thomas 

1796 Sturgeon, William 

1797 Shaw, Thomas 
1799 Shakespeare, Joseph 



1759 Thompson,William 

1760 Tobias, Thomas 



1758 
1777 
1783 
1793 
1771 
1773 
1805 
1811 
1779 
1804 
1787 
1810 
1810 
1789 
1801 
1803 
1808 
1807 
1801 
1809 



1799 
1767^ 



1753 Thomson, Joseph 1809 
1770 Tennant, Thomas 1793 
*786 Thoresby, William 1807 
1785 Thoresby, Richard 1786 
1789 Thompson, Jonath. 1789 

V 

Valton, John 1794 

Vipond, John 1789 

Vipond, William 1809 

W 

Walsh. Thomas 1758 
Westell, Thomas 1794 
Wright, Duncan 1791 
Walsh, Richard — — 
Watkins, Christop. 18021 
Whatcoat, Richard 1807 
Wilkinson, Robert 1781 
Wells, Samuel 1~80 

Whitaker, William 1794 
Winbv, William 1772 
Watkinson, Rich. 1793 
Warwick, Thomas 1810 
Wawne, George 178 1 
W T adsworth, Geo. 1/97 
Wray. James 1793 

Wride, Thomas 1807 
Wilson, William 180P, 

Williams, James — 

Willis, Mark 1795 

Werril, Thomas 1792 
White, George 1800 



1775 

1797 
1797 



1750 
1756 

1764 
1765 
1768 
1769 
1769 
1769 
1769 
1770 
1776 
1778 
1779 
1779 
1781 
1782 
1783 
1786 
1788 
1789 
1797 



A LIST 



OF THOSE 



A C H E B B 



WHO 
DEPARTED FROM THE WORK, OR WERE EXPELLED ; 

WITH THE RESPECTIVE TrMES, AS FAR AS CAN BE ASCERTAINED, 
OF THEIR ADMISSION AND DEPARTURE. 

N. B. As the Conference, in many cases, has omitted to 
distinguish between those who departed of their own accord, 
and some few who were at different times expelled, and also 
in some cases to mention at all those who retired, this List 
contains promiscuously both descriptions. 



1762 ATLAY, John 

1770 Avoy, John Mac 
1776 Armstrong, Robert 
1778 Accutt, John 
1783 Adamson William 

B 

1747 Bennett, John 1 

1762 Bum stead, Daniel 1 

1765 Brownfield, James 1 

1766. Barker, William 1 

1767 Buckingham, Wm. ] 

1768 Bell, Robert 1 

1769 Barnes, Thomas 1 

1771 Bristol, John 1 
1778 Bent, James 

1778 Blake, Robert 3 

1770 Bridge, Robert 1 
1733 Bond, Charles 1 

1785 Blagborne, Wm. 3 

1786 Broadbent, Thomas 3 

1 787 Barrowclough, Dav. 1 

1789 Brandon, William 3 

1790 Boyle, John 3 
1792 Brown, William 1 
1792 Brice, John 1 
1800 Bagnall, John 1 



11804 
1788; 1804 
1809 



Brownless, John 1806 
Brocklehurst, Tho. 1807 
Eroadbelt, Joseph 1810 



1760 
1764 
1767 
1767 
1768 
1772 
1777 
1779' 
1787 
1789 
1791 
1793 
1795 
1806 



1753 
1766 
1766 
1768 
1772 
1773 



C 

Clough, James 1774 

Cheek, Moseley 1769 

Cotty, James ' 1780 

Colley, Benjamin — — 

Crowle, Jonathon 1776 

Christian, John 1777 

Church, William 1790 

Christie, James 1799 

Collins, Wm. jun. — 

Cross, Joseph 1800 

Cummins, Alex. 1798 

Clarke, John 1796 

Cooke, Joseph 1806 
Constable, William 1810 

D 

Davis, John 1768 

Davis, Mark 1769 

Dancer, Thomas 1767- 

Deaves, James 1768- 

Duncan, John 1772 

Davis, Robert 17&3 

Duftom, William 1792 



PORTRAITURE Of METHODISM. 



59* 



1774 Delap, Andrew 


1779 


1767 Harry, William 


1770 


1775 Dean Peter 


1778 


I768 Howard, Robert 


1770 


1776 Davis, Robert 





I769 Hudson, James 


1777 


1780 Dice, George 


1786 


I76I Hudson, George 


1780 


1788 Drew, Richard 


1792 


1769 Hern, Jonathan 


1791 


1788 Dobson, Thomas 





I77I Hind marsh, Jas. 


1783 


1789 Dieuade, William 


1797 


I773 Hunt, Richard 


1774 


1798 Davis, Thomas 


1808 


I776 Hall, James 


1798 






I776 Hamson, John, sen. 


1735 


E 




I777 Hamson, John, jun. 


1785 


1747 Edwards, John 


1753 


I777 Howe, John 


1789 


1771 Eden, Thomas 


1772 


1782 Hoskins, William 


1789 


1772 Eels, William 


1788 


I78] Hetherington, Wm 


. 1791 


1781 Ellis, Thomas 


1787 


1784 Hindmarsh, Wm. 


> 


1783 Edwards, Samuel 


1788 


1786 Harper, John 


1799 


1792 Eversfield, Stephen 1J 


1786 Heath, William 


1808 






1787 Holmes, John 


1789 


F v 




1795 Hill, Josiah 


1803 


1765 Fug-ill, William S 1768 


1799 Hey wood, John 


1803 


1770 Floyd, John 


1782 


1804 Hurd, Thomas 


1806 


1771 Fen wick, Michael 


1784 


1807 Hodgson, Charles 


1810 


1775 Ferguson, Peter 


1776 


1807 Hewgill, Joseph 


1810 


1770 Fothergill, Joseph 


1776 


1809 Harwood, John 


1810 


1790 Franklin, William 


1797 






1806 Fussell, James 


1809 


I 








1746 Jones, John 


1767^ 


G 




I744 Jones, Joseph 


1760 


1758 Gamett, Joseph 


- — 


1743 Jones, James 


1749 


1757 Glazebrook, James 


1774 


1767 James, Thomas 


1770 


1760 Gibbs, John 


1774 


1780 Inglis, Andrew 


1793 


1774 Guthrie, George 


1778 


1781 Ingham, John 


1786 


1780 Green, William 


1796 


1781 Jordan, James 


1788 


1782 Glascock. John 


1788 


1794 Jones, John 


1799 


1786 Gills, John 


1798 


1798 J oil, Diggory 


1801 


1786 Geary, John Mac 


179.5 






1790 Greaves, Thomas 


1792 


K 




1790 Graham, John 


1798 


1752 Kershaw, James 


1757 


1798 Gesburn, John 


1803 


1774 Kershaw, Arthur 


1775 


1798 Gilead, John 


1806 


1786 Kelshall Stephen 


1787 


1823 Gunn, Robert 


1808 


1785 Kilham, Alexander 179a 


H 

1738 Humphreys, Josepl 




1792 Kyte, Joseph 

L 
1743 Larwood, Samuel 


1796 


1 1740 


1753 


1741 Haughton, John 


1760 


1772 Linnell, William 


1773 


17 ±2 Hardwick, Thomas 


1749 


1765 Longbottom, James — 


1761 Heslop, John 


-1768 


1779 Lindsay, Robert 


1788 


1764 Helton, John 


1777 


1788 Lyons, James 


1796 


1758 Hosmer, John 


^770 


1788 Lee, Nebuchadnez. 


1791 


1764 Henderson, Rich. 


1771 


1790 Lawton, James 


1797 


1766 Halliday, Thomas 


1786 


1800 Lockwood, William 


ISPS' 




B 


b2 








A TRUE AND (COMPLETE 



1740 
1742 
1750 
1746 
1753 
1759 
1767 
1771 
1773 
1773 
1773 
177 '4 
1767 
1777 
1779 
1786 
1786 
1787 
1798 
1800 



2766 
1761 



1746 
1765 
1760 



1767 
1764 
176$ 
1768 
1769 
1770 
1771 
1787 
1802 



M 

Maxficld, Thomas 1762 

Meyrick, Thomas 1750 

Morgan, James - — - 

Moss, Richard 1752 

Murray, John 1774 
Manners, Nicholas 1775 

Magor, John 1770 

Moulson, John 

Moore, Joseph 1779 

Mather, Ralph 

Moorhouse, Mich, 1786 

Moore, William 1785 

Morlev, John 1776 

Moore", Hugh 1790 

Mitchell, Samuel 1799 

Mosely, Abraham 1805 

Moorhead, Samuel 

Melcombson, John 

Moore, John 1801 

Mitchell, Page 1803 

N 

Nabb, Alex. Mac 1780 

Newall, Thomas 1780 



O 

Odd ie, James 
Orpe, William 
Oliver, John 



1771 

1768 
1784 



Peacock, John 
Price, Peter 
Pilmoor, Joseph 
Proctor, Stephen 
Pitt, William 
Perfect, James 
Price, Nehemiah 
Philips, George 
Poulter, Thomas 

Q 



1769 
1768 
1774 
1782 
1772 
1785 
1790 
1789 
1804 



1789 Quigg, James Mac 1806 

R 

1760 Roe, George 1766 

1742 Reeves, Jonathan 1760 

1750 Roberts, William 1760 

1740 Richards, Thomas 17i9 



1784 



1765 Rourke, Thomas 1770 
1780 Readshaw, Thomas 1783 

17G2 Rankin, Thomas 1787 

1765 Rea, James 1770 

1767 Rvan Thomas 1791 

1768 Rodda, Martin 1781 
1776 Robbins, Henry 
1783 Renwick, James 
1785 Ramshaw, John 1795 

1785 Kobotham, John 

1799 Radcliffe, James 1304 
Roberts, Tho. jun. 1804 

S 

1749 Skilton, Charles 1753 

1764 Stephens, James 1787 

1767 Smith, Samuel 1779 

1768 Sanderson, Hugh 1777 
1772 Severn, William 1773 

1774 Smith, Francis 1775 

1775 Saunderson, Joseph 1784 

1776 Skinner, James 1782 
1780 Shaw, Thomas • 

1786 Smith, Thomas 1788 
1770 Slater, Edward 1776 
1782 Scott, Robert 1790 
1802 Story, John 1804 
1796 Shrowder, Hans 1802 



1764 Thomas, Barnabas 1772 

1743 Trembath, John 1760 

1771 Tatton, Thomas 1778 

1774 Tunney, William 1781 

1774 Thorn, William 1797 

Thoresby, Francis 1795 

1786 Tregortha, John 

1788 Taylor, Henry 1797 

1794 Thomson, Rich. 1802 

U 
1785 Vernor, Thomas 
1770 Undrell, John 



W 

1744 Walker, Francis 
1747 Williams, Thomas 
1742 Wheatly, James 

1745 Webster, Eleazer 
1745 Williamson, gicb. 



1791 
1778 

1753 

1754 
1751 
17*1 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM, 295 

f7U Whitehead, John 1769 1778 Ward, Nathaniel 1735 

1765 Woodcock, Samuel 1776 1779 Walker, John 1782 

1763 Whitwell, William 1769 1785 Walker, Peter 178S 

1768 Wolfe, Francis 1782 1787 West, John 1790 

Watson, John, sen. 1773 1788 Winscombe, Jasper 1792 

1770 Wright, Richard 1777 j 1788 Wyment, Thomas 1891 

1770 Williams, Robert ! Watson-, Richard 1791 

177* Whitely, John 1779, 1797 White, John 1801 



CHAPTER IV. 

METHODISM DEFENDED. 

Being an Answer to some Objections to the Methodists i 
and containing Remarks on Toleration, and a cindi: 
cation of the Principle of universal and equal Liberty 
in Matters of Religion. 

AND now, reader, after perusing this account of the 
history, the doctrines, and discipline of the Meth- 
odists, what do you think ; what is there to excite dis- 
gust, or blame ? " Well," you will say, " at any rate, 
many people say a great deal against them." And was 
there ever a pious people upon earth, of whom the world 
did not say a great deal of evil ? It is one awful proof, 
as well as fruit, of the fall and depravity of human na- 
ture. *• The carnal mind is enmity against God," and 
therefore against the things and the people of God. — 
Men would be shocked at the sight of themselves, and 
one another, were they to avow themselves the ene- 
mies of God. It would be rather too gross, for men to 
declare their hatred of that holiness, which is according 
to the image and commands of God. And it is but htre 
and there, that we can meet with a person who has im- 
pious courage enough to enter his protest against the 
word of God. The whole strength, therefore, of this 
malignity of heart, is reserved for the people of God» 



296 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

Against them, the carnal mind displays itself in revil- 
ing, evil-speaking, and persecuting. But it o^ght to be 
observed, that the ungodly part of mankind, never re- 
proach and persecute the children of God as such ; they 
do it under some other pretence. They charge them 
with crimes, follies, and absurdities, which they are not 
guilty of, and then clamour against them as evil-doers, 
if they did this in the green tree, surely they will doit 
much more in the dry. 

The enemies of Jesus Christ laid to his charge things 
that he knew not ; then seized him as an enemy to God 
and man, and under this pretence, condemned him to 
die, hastened him to Calvary, and crucified him there. 
One party cried out, " He is an enemy to Moses,"" in 
other words, to their established church, of which Mo- 
ses was the founder. Another party exclaimed, " He is 
an enemy to Caesar," that is, the government, of which 
Caesar, or the Roman emperor, was the head, as Canaan 
was then reduced to a Roman province. 

And in reading the Acts of the Apostles, we may 
constantly observe, that the bitter persecutions raised 
against the first Christians, and the first Christian 
preachers especially, were uniformly under false accu- 
sations. They were charged with being enemies to the 
established religion, both in Judea, at Ephesus, and va- 
rious other places, where they preached the gospel.-— 
These messengers of the true and living God, were 
termed, " pestilent fellows, sowers of sedition," dis- 
turbers of the public tranquility, and disseminating new 
and dangerous doctrines. 

Some of the calumniators of the Methodists, I do not 
doubt, do it ignorantly, like Saul of Tarsus, and proba- 
bly like him, think they are doing God service. For 
the sake of these 5 as well as many others, I shall pro- 
ceed to answer a few objections which have been made 
to this denomination of Christians. 

In the former periods of Methodism, the outcry was,, 
that so much praying, hearing of sermons, <fec. promo- 
ted idleness $ and this, together with what they contri- 
buted in support of religion, would ruin those who fol- 
lowed this way. But matter of fact has so constantly 
proved this charge to be a false one s that little is said up- 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 297 

on this head at present ; though it is still repeated ia 
some places where Methodism is but little known. 

1. Some object to Methodism, that "it is unnecessa- 
ry, seeing we have a very good Protestant church, in 
which is sound doctrine, as the articles, homilies, and 
liturgy, testify ; and also, that in this church, there is a 
large body of clergy, 1 8,000 or more, who are very 
learned men^ and were regularly appointed to the office." 

To this I answer, we have a church, and for & national 
one, I believe it to be the very best church in the world. 
And I believe the doctrines contained in the articles, 
homilies, and liturgy, as firmly as any churchman what- 
soever ; much more firmly than many of the clergy do. 
In my younger days, for many years, I attended the 
service of the church as constantly as any person in 
England. And to this day, when I have opportunity, 
it gives me pleasure to attend the service of the church. 
And that pleasure is much heightened, when I find the 
pulpit and the reading-desk harmonize in doctrine. But 
alas ! I have too frequently found, that while the read- 
ing-desk still "held fast the form of sound words." the 
pulpit had " erred and strayed like a lost sheep." Had 
it not been for this apostacy of the pulpit, it is probable 
Methodism had never had an existence in its present 
form. For what was its origin ? Why, a few young 
men, educated for the ministry in the church of Eng- 
land, became truly pious, and very zealous. They pro- 
claimed aloud the almost forgotten doctrines of the 
Church of England. But these doctrines were not only 
out of fashion, but were greatly offensive to the main 
body of the clergy. They shut the doors of the church- 
es against these pious, zealous, and orthodox clergy- 
men. The consequence was, they must either retreat 
to other places of worship, preach in the open air, or 
give up preaching altogether. But, believing that a 
dispensation of the gospel was committed to them, and 
that woeful consequences would follow their departure 
from their heavenly calling, they preached where Prov- 
idence opened the way for them. 

But, what could occasion in the church of England, 
this denarture from her original doctrines, and this aver- 
sion to their being preached ? Every effect has a cau&e. 



"2-98 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

What are the chief causes of this? I believe the first 
cause to be, a most capital errpr in the appointments to 
the ministerial office. It seems to have been forgotten, 
that no man can be a proper Christian minister, without 
first becoming a Christian. Learning, and other quali- 
fications may be good in their place, but nothing can 
supply the want of piety. . It is true, the clergy are all 
Christians in name : I hope many of them are not only 
almost, but altogether Christians. But is this universally, 
or even generally the case ? There are many, whose 
morals may be very decent, but who yet seem to have no 
sense of religion upon their minds. They carry about 
them no savour of piety ; and are no way fitted to watch 
over souls as they who must give an account. If they 
do duty, as it is called, it is as much as can be looked 
for. 

Secondly the way by Which clergymen very frequent- 
ly become possessed of benefices, or livings, operates 
strongly to the injury of the church. They are neither 
chosen by the people, to whom they minister in holy 
things, nor by their ministerial brethren. But rather, 
they are presented to the living, either by a single 
clergyman, (the bishop) or a single layman, (the patron) 
the Lord Chancellor, or the Prime Minister of State.— - 
If some of the livings are bestowed by the Universities, 
still it is in such a way as does not materially mend the 
matter. 

In presenting a clergyman to a benefice, sometimes, 
no doubt, it is done as it ought to be, on account of his 
piety, talents, and suitableness for the situation. But, 
will any person, who is sufficiently acquainted with 
these things, say that this is generally the case ? 

Thirdly, the discipline of the Church is so notorious- 
ly and deplorably defective, as to countenance, or con- 
nive at evils innumerable. Many are the instances of 
immorality, and neglect of duty among the clergy ; and 
yet, how seldom are any of them brought to any seri- 
ous account for their conduct ? What a rare thing for 
any of these to get a serious reproof from their superiors, 
and still more rare for one of them to be deposed from 
his office ! 

What I mean to say is, that these are*, in my judg* 



rOHTRAITITRE OF METHODISM. 29S 

ment, the principal causes of the Church being in its 
present state ; and it was the existence of these evils 
which rendered Methodism necessary. 

2. Some object to Methodism, " That the preachers 
are not regularly appointed to the work of the ministry; 
nor jet possess sufficient qualifications for the work," I 
answer, (1.) With regard to their appointment to the 
work, it is, I think, more scriptural than that of the es* 
tablished clergy. Read the statement I have given, in 
the chapter on discipline, of the appointment of local 
and travelling preachers. Of one thing we may be ab- 
solutely certain, and that is, that God never called a 
wicked man to the work of the ministry. " To the 
wicked, saith God, what hast thou to do to take my law 
into thy mouth ; whereas thou hatest to be reformed, 
and hast cast my words behind thee ?" The ministers 
of Christ are termed ambassadors, 2 Cor. v. 20. But 
did ever any sovereign in the world employ a person in 
an embassy whom he knew hated him, and was much 
more attached to the cause and interests of those to 
whom he was sent, than to those of his master ? Whoso- 
ever has a regular call to the ministry, it is not a sinful 
or unregenerated man. 

As to ordination itself, the Methodist preachers have 
at least all the essential parts. They undergo an exam- 
ination, both as to their characters and qualifications 
for the ministry, far more suited to the nature of the of- 
fice, than those pass through who are most loud in urg- 
ing this objection. Had they to pass through such a 
process before they could obtain deacons orders, as a 
preacher among the Methodists do, prior to his admis- 
sion on trial, some of them would never be ordained 
deacons. And had they after that, to wait four years 
before they could obtain priest* orders, and then go 
through such an examination as our preachers do before 
they are admitted into full connexion, many a deacon 
would never be made a priest. Our ordination, (as the 
admissions above-mentioned may be very properly 
termed,) is not deficient in any point, except in the 
point of laying on of hands. And though this was prac- 
tised by the apostles, yet it is not declared to be neces- 
sary, nor is it enjoined for general observance. Nay, it 



300 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

will admit of a dispute, whether the ceremony of laying 
on of hands was any way particularly connected with 
ordination to the ministry. It was used upon such oc- 
casions by the apostles, at least sometimes. But it is 
not certain it was always used when men were set apart 
for that sacred office ; while it is very certain they laid 
hands upon other persons without any such appoint- 
ment. This was done when the seven were appointed 
" to serve tables," and to look after the " widows" and 
other needy persons ** in the daily ministrations," Acts 
vi. 1 — 6. Peter and John laid their hands on those 
people of Samaria, whom they baptized, after they 
" had received the word of God," Acts viii. 7. Ana- 
nias " put his hands upon Saul," but it is expressly said 
that he did this that he might receive his sight, Acts 
ix. 12, 17. Hands were laid upon Saul and Barnabas, 
at Antioch ; but this was not so much an appointment 
to the ministry, as a setting apart for a particular mis- 
sion, They had been preachers a good while, and had 
taught much people," for " a whole year" at Antioch, 
Acts xi. 26.- — xii. 1—- 4. Paul laid his hands upon cer- 
tain disciples at Ephesus, whom he baptized " in the 
name of the Lord Jesus," and who had before been bap- 
tized "intoJohn ? s baptism," Acts xix. 1 — 7. Paul 
st laid Jiis hands on" Publius, the chief m^n of the island 
of Melita, or Malta, and " prayed with him," and 
" healed him." These instances suffice to show what 
is meant by " the doctrine of laying on of hands," Heb. 
vi. 2. But whatever may be said about the absolute 
necessity of the laying on of hands, at appointments to 
the gospel ministry, I feel no inclination to dispute the 
propriety of it. A number of us have received this from 
men whom we think as much authorized to confer ordi- 
nation as any bishop in Christendom. And should the 
conference so determine, it may easily be imparted to all 
the preachers now in our connexion, and all succeeding 
ones upon their being received into full connexion. It 
will be found a much easier task to put hands upon a 
man's head, than to put mental qualifications into it.— 
And it is to be feared that " mitred heads" sometimes 
lay " hands on sculls that cannot teach, and will not 
learn." Nor is this defect confined, to Episcopalians, as 



POUTRAITITRE GF METHODISM. 301 

tlte following anecdote seems to intimate. At a cer- 
tain ordination in Scotland, when the time came for put- 
ting hands upon the candidates head, one minister was ob- 
served to keep his distance, and stretching out his hand> 
laid the end of his stick upon the young minister's head. 
Being afterwards spoken to upon this strange act, he 
pleasantly observed, " He thought timber to timber 
formed a very proper union." 

I shall only add, that I am satisfied, there are many 
clergymen belonging to the Church, of good natural 
parts, of useful, as well as ornamental learning, and a 
goodly and increasing number, who have both the form 
and the power of godliness. And exceeding glad should 
I be, were I able to say this, touching the whole of them. 

As to qualifications, (2.) The Methodists require, that 
a man should be able to pray and preach, and that with- 
out a book. Whereas, had they had nothing to do but 
to pray by a form, which was made long before they 
were born, and to read sermons, made perhaps by oth- 
ers, no qualification would have been necessary, but the 
bare ability to read. While these gentry are talking 
about " unqualified and insufficient teachers," survey the 
comparative difference between the man thus slandered, 
and vast numbers of their own order. Take both of 
them to a pulpit. These " unqualified and insufficient 
teachers," can pray and preach, and that in a way 
which reaches both to the understandings and affections 
of the congregation. Meantime, this gentleman, who 
talks #bout his being regularly bred to the ministry, and 
who thinks himself duly qualified, and amply sufficient 
for the work, how does he acquit himself? Why he con- 
vinces us that he has learned to read, and this is all we 
can fairly gather from his performance. But take his 
crutches from him, and let him pray and preach without 
a book. We will not require him to do this in his boast- 
ed Latin and Greek; these, he may say, and perhaps 
very truly, that he has in a great measure forgotten. 
But let him speak in good sterling English for an hour, 
in such a way as to give satisfaction to the major part 
of a common congregation. But alas ! he is utterly at 
a loss! He does nothing, and can do nothings he puts us 

B b 



302 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

in mind^f Isa. lvi. 10. " They are all dumb dogs, they 
cannot bark. 1 ' 

Again, a sick man wants some person to pray with him. 
The clergyman is sent for. After a little conversation, 
perhaps not much calculated to edify, he pulls out a 
book, and reads a short prayer by the bedside of the 
dying person. This being finished, he perhaps tells the 
afflicted person he hopes he will soon be better, and bids 
him farewell. And in this manner does he give his 
parishioners " ghostly counsel" and assist and comfort 
them when they lie on the bed of affliction. In such 
cases, it frequently happens, that a Methodist preacher 
is afterwards sent for, and his labours are found to be of 
a more suitable and profitable sort. But the objector 
urges. 

(3.) That " these preachers have not had a regular 
Classical education. " I answer, education is a very 
good thing, and a classical education is not held in con- 
tempt by the Methodists. But it is not a thing indis- 
pensably necessary to a proper and useful discharge of 
the work of the ministry. Such an education may be 
convenient and useful, and at any rate, ornamental.—* 
But, a man of only a common education, may learn and 
teach all that is necessary to salvation ; the knowledge 
of every essential doctrine of the gospel, and every 
branch of religion, whether speculative, experimental, 
or practical. What knowledge is necessary on the sub- 
ject of religion, which cannot be found in English au- 
thors ? Nay, what knowledge have nineteen out of twen- 
ty? yea, ninety-nine out of a hundred, of th^se very cler- 
gymen, in matters of religion, but what might have been 
obtained, and even in greater perfection, from authors 
whose works are published in the English language ? 
is shadow to supersede, and triumph over substance ? 
Besides, there are some Methodist preachers who would 
sustain no injury to their reputation, by a comparison 
with many clergymen in point of learning. 

Did the preaching of the gospel, consist chiefly of 
learned criticisms, the advantage of a classical education 
would be greater than it is : more especially, if the 
whole, or a considerable part of the people were classi- 
cal scholars also. And except this be the case, how 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. SOS 

preposterous is it, to hear a preacher quoting scraps of 
Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, in his sermons, which, per- 
haps, not two persons in the congregation understand ? 
And should he not understand some of these scraps him- 
self, it will not make the least difference in such cases. 
The edification of the people will be just the same, and 
his fame, as a linguist, will not be at all tarnished, at 
least, when not a single linguist is present. All there- 
fore, who are ambitious of this tinsel, must garnish 
their discourses with scraps of the learned languages, 
particularly among country farmers, mechanics, and 
village peasants. 

Waving the languages in which the classics were 
written, what remarkable advantages may be obtained 
from the matter contained in them ? Is that such as is 
particularly calculated to promote a spirit of Christian 
piety ? Has it some very powerful tendency to stimu- 
late to an imitation of Jesus Christ, in temper and con- 
duct ? Does it specially instruct a man now to instruct 
others in genuine godliness and true Christianity ? — • 
Would not the classical authors, most proper to be put 
in the hands of men about to become members of Jesi s 
Christ, be the Bible, the Epistles of the Apostolic Fath- 
ers, a well written history of the Church of Christ, sinrie 
the death of the twelve apostles, especially a history of 
the Waldenses, and Albigenses ; Fox's Book of Mar- 
tyrs : the History of the Popes, and the Papacy ; Bur- 
net's History of the Reformation ; the Sufferings of the 
Protestants in France, especially in the reign of Lewis 
the 1 4th | Neafs History of the Puritans ; and the His- 
tories of the Church of Scotland, in the reigng Of Charles 
the 2nd, and James 2nd. To these I would add, as 
Christian classics, the works of Archbishops Leigh ton, 
Tillotson, and Seeker; bishops Newton, Home, and 
Porteus ; of Mr. Baxter, nnd various others of the pu- 
ritanical and nonconformist writers, especially those of 
Dr. Watts and Dr. Doddridge, as well as the writings 
of Mr. Whiteneld, Mr. Wesley, and Mr. Fletcher.— 
Many others might be mentioned, especially Shuckford's 
and Prideaux's Connexions. A few good Commenta- 
ries on the Old and New-Testaments should be a dis- 
tinguished part of the ministerial classics, as well as a 
History, a Dictionary, and a Geography of the Bible, 



S04 A TKTJE AND COMPLETE 

And also the Lives of Eminent Christians, more par- 
ticularly the Lives of Eminent Ministers of Christ. 

A diligent perusal of these books, would be much 
more likely to prepare a man for the Christian ministry, 
than reading what are commonly termed the Classics.—* 
A surprising circumstance, indeed, that a man should be 
thought not sufficiently instructed to preach the glori- 
ous gospel of peace, without being sent to the polluted 
heathenish schools of Greece and Rome, and by some of 
these classical authors, to have his judgment perverted, 
and the bias of his soul directed to, and inflamed with 
a thirst after the desire of the eye, the desire of the 
flesh, and the pride of life : to be brought to admire, 
and almost adore, what is earthly, sensual and devilish ; 
to have his imagination fired* almost beyond all bounds, 
with ideas of lust and debauchery, war and slaughter, 
robbery and devastation ! Would it not have been a 
much better preparation for declaring the truth as it is 
in Jesus, and the whole counsel of God, to have been 
able to say, he had diligently studied the whole Bible, 
and especially the New-Testament, and that both for 
his own direction and to qualify him to instruct others, 
aiid that he had accompanied this reading with much 
prayer; that he had read, and deeply studied the books 
mentioned above, with many more of a similar descrip- 
tion : above all, that he truly feared and loved God, 
saw and felt the value of immortal souls, the evil of sin, 
the necessity of holiness, the fallen state of human na- 
ture, the plan of salvation by Jesus Christ, and the so- 
lemn and infinite importance of eternal things ? 

But it is objected, * u Many of these preachers are me- 
chanics, and were brought up to occupations of the 
more laborious and less respectable classes," And is 
there any thing criminal or degrading in this ? Elisha 
followed the laborious employment of plowing, until the 
very hour he was called to the prophetic office. The 
apostle Paul was brought up to the trade of tent-making, 
and wrought at it after he was employed in preaching 
the gospel. And it is highly probable, that Jesus Christ 
wrought with his reputed father, Joseph, at the business 
of a carpenter, till the commencement of his public miu 
ministry. See Matt, xiii. 55, and Mark vi. 3, Let 



jPORTRAITHBE or METHODISM. 305 

reason and common sense decide whether being em- 
ployed in an honest and useful mechanical calling, can 
unfit a man for becoming a preacher of the gospel, more 
than idleness, shooting and hunting, card-playing and 
dancing. The argument is much on the side of the me- 
chanic. And it is worthy of observation, that among 
all those whom our Saviour called to the apostolic office, 
there was not one genteel sluggard ; not one light, airy, 
polite, and fashionable buck or beau. But they were 
all men who had borne the yoke in their youth. It would 
have been well, if many of the clergy had been brought 
up to some trade. They might have exercised them- 
selves occasionally, had it been only for amusement, 
and they would have found it better for their health and 
reputation, than riding after dogs, hares, and foxe^s, or 
attending the races, &c. They might have known the 
better how to find fault with such mechanics as they 
have occasion to employ ; and if any of them should be 
silenced for misconduct, they might have earned a little 
honest bread, instead of enlisting for soldiers, or becom- 
ing a burden to their friends. 

Many persons have started at the bare idea of a man 
attempting to preach who bad not been regularly educa- 
ted for the purpose. But does the New-Testament, or 
any part of the Bible, lay any stress upon such educa- 
tion, or even so much as mention it ? There is nothing 
in the word of God, or in the actions of God, that sanc- 
tions this notion. None of the apostles chosen by our 
Lord, when upon earth, were classical scholars. And 
though Paul was afterwards made an apostle, it does not 
appear to have been because he was a man of academi- 
cal learning, but a sincere and zealous Christian. And 
hence, he held his classical learning, comparatively, 
in contempt. Alluding to this, he says, he became a 
fool for Christs sake, counted it but dung and dross, 
when contrasted with the excellency of the knowledge 
of Jesus Christ, and resolved henceforth, to know noth- 
ing but Christ Jesus, and him crucified. 

As to the prophets, which of them were men of lite- 
rature, according to the sense commonly affixed to the 
term ? Perhaps not one of them. I apprehend, had 
they been such, it would not have prevented their ap- 

B b 2 



^06 A TBUE AND COMPLETE 

pointment to the office : but their being called to the 
office witkout this qualification, proves that it was not 
absolutely necessary, and also, how little value God at- 
taches to it. But perhaps it will be said, that we read 
of " The sons of the prophets," who are supposed to 
have been students in divinity. 2 Kings, chap. ii. and 
chap. v. But what they really were, is very uncertain. 
One thing is certain, that an establishment of any 
seminary, called " The School of the Propliets" or any 
thing of the kind, did not form any branch of the insti- 
tutions of Moses. And it is equally certain, that Jesus 
Christ neither established, nor ever mentioned any 
thing bearing a resemblance to any such establishment. 

What do we read of these " sons of the prophets," 
who came forth to meet Elisha, that is interesting ? 
What they said to him was so useless, that he would 
not listen to them, but said, " Hold ye your peace" — 
And as he would not let them speak, so neither would 
he let them act. They foolishly proposed to send fifty 
men to search for Elijah, (who was gone to heaven,) on 
the tops of mountains, and in vallies, but he rebuked 
their folly. If these " sons of the prophets," had been 
of any great value, and had possessed special qualifica- 
tions for the prophetic office, one might have supposed 
one of them would have been chosen to succeed Elijah, 
instead of such a blow being given to academical pride, 
by the calling of the new prophet from the plough tail, 
while these youths were deemed so " unqualified and 
Insufficient," that they were not allowed either to speak 
or act. 

We have no account, that the priests under the law, 
Md any thing that could be called a classical educa- 
tion. We have no information that David had ever 
undergone such a literary drilling at any college ; nor 
yet Solomon, the wisest of men. Yet which of our 
collegians can wr£te so as to bear comparison with 
them ? And there is neither proof nor probability that 
any of the prophets, or David or Solomon, were lingu- 
ists. And if U be said our Saviour made his apostles 
linguists, J 'answer, the reason is plain, they were to go 
into all the world, and preach the gospel to every crea- 
hire, in ail nations* And many different languages 



PORTRAlTfTRE OP METHODISM. 307 

were spoken in the different countries, and the people 
of each region understood only their own language, it 
was absolutely necessary, that they who were to preach 
to every creature in all the different nations, should be 
able to speak in the language of each. And if those 
clergymen who talk so much about languages, will stir 
up their zeal, and go as missionaries to the East-Indies, 
China, Japan, Africa, Turkey, or any part of the Con- 
tinent of Europe, it is admitted it will be necessary for 
them to understand and speak the languages of the peo- 
ple they preach to. And if it be said, the knowledge of 
Hebrew and Greek is necessary to the right understand- 
ing of the scriptures, the languages in which the sacred 
volume was written ; I reply, it is paying but a poor 
compliment to the English translators of the Bible, as 
well as to all our commentators and scripture critics, to 
suppose that a man cannot sufficiently understand the 
Bible, both for his own direction and the instruction of 
others. Jf all these put together are not sufficient to 
convey to my mind proper and sufficient ideas of the 
doctrines, and other matters contained in holy writ, 
what hope can I indulge that I shall be able, (should 
God spare me to the age of Methuselah, and I spent all 
my days in studying Greek and Hebrew) sufficiently to 
understand the Bible, either for the instruction of others- 
or my own direction. Perhaps it will be deemed wan- 
dering from the point, when I say, that neither Noah, 
Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, nor Joseph, though 
such very eminent men, could either write or read.— ■ 
For there is neither proof nor probability, that letters 
were in use till the time of Moses. Could Joseph have 
written, we may rest assured, he would have sent a let- 
ter, by the hands of his brethren, to his aged and much- 
loved father, to have invited him to come down into 
Egypt. But nothing of the sort is mentioned or im- 
plied. 

Am I then arguing against learning ? No! I allow 
its proper worth; but I am arguing against what I call, 
the popery of learning. For learning, or a pretenqe to 
learning, or a little of both, is now to answer the ends, 
which the supremacy and infallibility of the pope, sham 
miracles, &c. wsre made to answer in former days. 1% 



308 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

is mere dust thrown in the eyes of the people. Learn- 
ing, in itself, is not an evil. But when under pretence 
of it, a sort of literary popery is attempted to be estab- 
lished, and men in square caps and other antiquated ha- 
bilaments, would seize the imaginary keys of the pre- 
tended successor of St. Peter, common sense, and indig- 
nation against opposition, in whatever shape it may 
come, impel me to enter my protest. 

Whatever may be wanting in our literary endow- 
ments, is amply compensated for in laboriousness and 
usefulness. In these at least, the Methodist preachers 
are not a whit behind tne very chief of our modern apos- 
tles. Every Methodist preacher, upon an average, goes 
through nearly three times as much labour as the gene- 
rality of other ministers, whether of the establishment, 
or among the different denominations of dissenters. — 
There are a few exceptions, but not many. Some of 
the clergy are not only pious and exemplary in their 
moral conduct, bat also patterns of diligence, and labo- 
rious zeal, which their brethren would do well to imi- 
tate. And as to usefulness, how many of our regular 
and learned gentlemen, will stand the comparison ? I 
would ask, whether more careless sinners have not been 
reformed, during the last seventy years, by the labours 
of Methodist preachers, who in a national point of view, 
have cost nothing, than by all the labours of more than 
eighteen thousand clergymen, who have cost the nation 
so many millions of money ? This was the opinion of 
the celebrated Dr. Priestly, who was far from being a 
Methodist, though a minute observer of moral as well 
as natural causes and effects. It is allowed, that exten- 
sive good has been done, but this would have given 
them greater satisfaction had it been done in the Church. 
I can only say, if God had wrought in and by the 
Church, the Methodists would have been no hinderance 5 
but would have rejoiced, and assisted with all their 
might. Whenever any clergyman has shown a dispo- 
sition to do good, in his day, the Methodists have been 
the first to rejoice at the sight, and to give him every 
encouragement and assistance in their power. And in 
this they have often overlooked difference of opinion, 
and even sometimes an unfriendly disposition on the 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 503 

part of such clergymen. It may be asked with surprize, 
what causes this antipathy to the Methodists, which we 
so frequently witness in clergymen, and even in some, 
who, on account of their piety and zeal, and their 
preaching agreeably to the Articles, Homilies, and Lit- 
urgy, are themselves called Methodists ? This question 
deserves a serious answer. The fact is notorious : but 
what can be the cause ? The Methodist preachers do 
not get any share of the church-livings, nor cause any 
deduction from the salaries of the clergy ; nor have they 
any intention, desire, or expectation of ever obtaining 
any part of these emoluments. 

It has never been an object of Methodism to oppose 
the clergy of the established church. The Methodist 
preachers inculcate the doctrines of the Church, and 
frequently use the liturgy in their own chapels. And 
it would please them much to see the church in pros- 
perity. For this they have long hoped and prayed. — 
But the conduct of the clergy, makes them a? most des- 
pair of ever seeing this desire of their hearts accom- 
plished. Nothing sinks their hopes, and excites their 
fears, like the following lamentable and undeniable cir- 
cumstance. Many of the clergy are far more zealous 
against Methodism than they are against sin. A man 
may live in rioting and drunkenness, chambering and 
wantonness, or other heinous sins, and perhaps neither 
in private nor in public does his parson say any thing to 
warn him of his danger, or to turn him from the evil of 
his ways. Here would be a fair occasion, not only to 
press home the grand concerns of the soul and eternity, 
but to represent to the sinner, The danger of the Church, 
when its members act so contrary to the gospel of 
Christ. In some remarkable cases, a few neighbouring 
clergymen might go in a body to a notorious sinner, to 
admonish, instruct, and pray with him. But, how sel- 
dom is this done ? At the same time, if a man becomes 
thoughtful, reads pious books, frequents the Methodist 
chapel, and begins to pray, there is a great display of 
zeal to turn him from this new path.* 

*The Vioar of P taking a walk on Sunday evening, not 

far from the Methodist chapel, perceived Mr at a distance, 

and suspected he had been there. He accosted him with some 



MO A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

Of all the adults in England, how few go to any place 
of worship ? Suppose one in three attend public wor- 
ship, two- thirds spend the sabbath in idleness, -visiting, 
working, in journeys of pleasure, and some in commit- 
ting more gin on that day, than on all the other days of 
the week. Now, here is a noble field for the exertion 
of clerical zeal and talents ? Let them " return from 
following their brethren," 2 Sam. ii. 26, who are gone 
to the Methodist and Dissenters, and let them go after 
those who remain in ignorance, carelessness, and sin, 
bring them to their churches, and warn them, teach 
them, and lead them to Christ, to holiness, and heavea. 
The Methodists will not oppose them, but greatly re- 
joice to see so much good done, whatever may have 
been the first stimulus to such laudable and useful la- 
bour. By such conduct as this they may keep a large 
majority of the people in their interest. And believe 
me, there is work enough for all the clergy, the dissent- 
ing ministers, and all the Methodist preachers in Eng- 
land. 

Should the objector say, " Every departure from the 
church, will increase a party, which either is, or may 
be disaffected to the state," I answer, the Methodists 
have proved themselves as good and loyal subjects as 
any in the king's dominions. There has never been 
one person, belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists, ex- 
ecuted for hign treason, transported, or otherwise pun- 
ished for sedition ; or tried, or imprisoned, under any 
such charge. And whenever there has been a fair oc- 
casion for displaying it, their attachment to the govern- 
ment has been conspicuous. This was the case in Ire- 
land, during the late rebellion ; in the West India isl- 
ands, when threatened by the French, some few years 
ago : to which I may add, the untarnished and distin- 

warmth, •' What. Mr. have you been to encourage these 

vagabond preachers ? I thought a man of your understanding 
had known better ; I am surprised at you." Mr. — — endea- 
vouring to steady himself, for he was drunk, replied, ' I 
have only been drinking a quart or two of ale at the Bunch of 
Grapes, with neighbour D. Sir " w O, I beg your pardon, I 
thought you had been at tjie Methodist chapel, good night* 
good night.'' 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 311 

guished reputation those Methodists have maintained, 
who have been in the army and the navy. 

At the battle of Fontenoy, John Haiine, and a few 
other Methodists, greatly distinguished themselves by 
their courage and conduct. John Haime, after his dis- 
charge from the army, became a travelling preacher, 
and died the death of the righteous, at Whitchurch, in 
Hampshire, August 18, 1784, in the 78th year of his 
age. In the account of his life, written by himself, he 
says, " On May 1, 1745, we had a full trial of our faith 
at Fontenoy. This day God was pleased to prove our 
little flock, and to show them his power. They showed 
such courage and boldness in the fight, as made the offi- 
cers as well as soldiers amazed. When William Cle- 
ments had his arm broken by a musket ball, they would 
have carried him out of the battle. But he said, " No : 
I have an arm left to hold my sword : I will not ga 
yet.' When another shot broke his other arm, he said, 
' I am as happy as I can be out of paradise.' John 
Evans having both his legs taken off by a cannon-ball, 
was laid across a cannon to die : where, as long as he 
could speak, he was praising God with joyful lips." 

" For my own part, I stood the hottest fire of the ene- 
my for seven hours. But I told my comrades, 'the French 
have no ball made that will kill me this day.' After 
about seven hours, a cannon-ball killed my horse under 
me. An officer cried out aloud, i Haime, where is your 
God now V I answered, c Sir, he is here with me ; and 
he will bring me out of this battle.' Presently a can- 
non-ball took off his head. I was exposed both to the 
enemy and to our own horse ; but that did not discou- 
rage me at all : for I knew the God of Jacob was with 
me. I had a long way to go through all our horse, the 
balls flying on every side. The hotter the battle grew, 
the more strength was given me." 

William Clements wrote to Mr. Wesley, saying, — 
" We lay on our arms all night. In the morning the 
cannon began at half past four o'clock ; and the Lord 
took away all fear from me, so that I went into the field 
with joy. The balls flew on either hand, and men fell 
in abundance ; but nothing touched me till about two 
o'clock. Then I received a ball through my left arm* 



312 A TRtJE AND COMPLETE 

and rejoiced so much the more. Soon after I received 
another in my right, which obliged pie to quit the field. 
But 1 scarce knew, whether I was on earth or in hea- 
ven. It was one of the sweetest days 1 ever enjoyed." 

The grand effectual check that was given to the late 
dreadful rebellion in Ireland, was very much owing to 
Mr. Michael M'Cormick, a Methodist. He had former- 
ly been in the army, and still possessed both the cou- 
rage and skill of a good soldier. 

There was a small company of Methodists on board 
the Victory, Lord Nelson's ship, at the battle of Trafal- 
gar. An officer, who particularly watched them, de- 
clared they were the best sailors in the ship ; and ex- 
pressed his astonishment that not one of them was eith- 
er killed or wounded. 

Finally, did ever a single Methodist desert from eith- 
er the army or navy? I believe^not. Deserters are al- 
most always Churchmen. And if any thing could pos- 
sibly cause any deviation, or abatement, in this respect, 
among the Methodists, it would be oppression and per* 
secution: it would be precisely what these alarmists 
about the danger of the church, are labouring to bring on. 
No pious people ever became inimical to the govern- 
ment under which they lived, but through cruel treat- 
ment. It has only been when their lives have been made 
bitter by reason of cruel bondage, or unmerited affliction, 
like Israel in Egypt, that they have ever been brought to 
breathe the spirit of the posterity of that people, when 
they said, " What portion have we in David ? Neither 
have we inheritance in the son of Jesse : to your tents, 
O Israel : now see to thine own house, David," 1 Kings 
xii. 16. 

The case of the family of the Stuarts is exactly in 
point here. This family was hurled from the throne of 
Britain, and obliged to take refuge in foreign countries, 
after oppressing the people, and cruelly persecuting 
them, especially on account of religion. 

It is impolitic in the civil government of any country, 
to indulge in any species of persecution. The perpe- 
tuity of governments depend upon their ruling in equity, 
without respect of persons, and in dealing out their pro- 
tection with impartiality. This will secure the esteem 



POHTKAITURE OV METHODISM. 313 

and attachment of the subjects. Whilst persecution, 
under whatever name, becomes the most criminal and 
dangerous, when directed against a righteous, praying 
people ; or what the Bible terms The people of God. It 
is worthy of observation, that scarcely any govern- 
ment ever treated these with cruelty, and remained long 
without some signal proof of the displeasure of Jehovah. 
Pharaoh and the taskmasters, the hrst government per- 
secutors we read of in the Bible, were overwhelmed in 
the Red Sea. 

The rich and powerful government of the Babylonian 
empire, was suddenly destroyed, and that in the midst 
of the greatest security, after captivating the posterity 
of Jacob, and keeping them in bondage ; and while this 
government, at a drunken feast, was triumphing over 
the Hebrews, and insulting their God, when heated 
with wine, Belshazzar'commanrted to bring the golden 
and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out 
of the temple at Jerusalem ; that the king and his prin- 
ces, his wives and his concubines, might drink therein. 
And while they drank out of these vessels, which had 
been dedicated to the only true God, as if in triumph 
over him, they praised their own idol-gods, which were 
made of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and 
of stone. But in that hour, the visible hand, of an 
otherwise invisible agent, wrote over against the candle- 
stick, upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, 
God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it? — Thy 
kingdom is divided, and given to tlie Medcs and Persians. 
And in that same night was Belshazzar slain, and Da- 
rius, the Median, took the kingdom. By this memora- 
ble transfer of power, did the Almighty open the w ay 
for the restoration of his chosen people, to the enjoyment 
of liberty and their religious privileges. 

The most powerful of all governments that ever exist- 
ed, that of the Romans, did not stand long after it perse- 
cuted, afflicted, and tormented the church of God. At 
the time the church of Christ was founded, that mighty 
and extensive empire had been growing in size and in 
splendour, for more than seven hundred year3 : but 
when it set itself against the truth, And the people of 
God, it was afflicted with many calamities, and was 

Dd 



31* A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

soon destroyed by cruel barbarians. And what is the 
present state of the Popedom, which has shed the blood 
of so many of God's saints? Where is that Spanish gov- 
ernment that maintained uniformity in religion, or rath- 
er in superstition and error, by the inquisition, tortures, 
and death ? And where is the power of the family of the 
Capets, or Bourbons which so long and so grievously op- 
pressed and slaughtered the Protestants in France? 
The fall of that persecuting house, has been almost as 
tragical and memorable, as have been its cruel oppres- 
sions of the people of God. Gibbon, and other infidels, 
may endeavour to assign other causes for " The De- 
cline and Fall of the Roman Empire ;" half-papists may 
«ee no hand of God in the humiliation, or even annihi- 
lation of the Popedom ; the French Revolution may be 
wholly ascribed, by mere politicians, to the deistical 
disciples of Voltaire, and Republicanism ; the dethrone- 
ment of the king of Spain, may be imputed to the bound- 
less amotion, and matchless treachery, of the present 
Ruler of France^ but every man who fully believes, and 
properly considers the bible, will be prepared to acqui- 
esce in a declaration similar to that of our Saviour to Pi- 
late, namely, that the instruments of such revolutions 
and dethronements, could have no power to do these 
things, except it had been given them from above. 
John xix. 11. God has a principle hand, and some- 
times a vengeful hand, in all great changes in nations 
and dynasties : " For promotion cometh neither from 
the east, nor from the west, nor from the south : but God 
is the Judge : he putteth down one, and setteth up an- 
other. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and 
the wine is red ; it is full of mixture ; and he poureth out 
of the same : but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of 
the earth shall wring them out, and drink them." Psalm 
Ixxv. 6, 7, 8. 

Meantime, " the liberal man," and especially the libe- 
ral governor," deviseth liberal things; and by liberal 
things shall he stand." Isa. xxxii. 8. Who can doubt 
for a moment, that the liberal and tolerating spirit which 
has been so uniformly displayed by the family which 
no\y wears the crown of Britain,|has very materialy con- 
tributed to make it remain firmly seated upon the throne. 



rORTEAITUEE OF METHODISM. 315 

while so many surrounding princes have been hurled 
from their elevated seats. 

Further, whatever is of God, will stand by its own 
strength, and With the protection of heaven, without 
any coercive or violent aid : and on the other hand, no 
work, or cause Of God, can be effectually overturned by 
any power whatsoever. Meantime, it is an awful thing 
to be found fighting against God yea, even when men, 
like Saul of Tarsus, do it ignorantly, and because they 
think they ought so to do. Acts xxvi. 9. 1 Tim. i. 13. 

The subject of Religious Liberty is so interesting, 
that I enlarge this part of the work much beyond my 
previous intention. New ideas are suggested, which 
I think sufficiently important to insert. Toleration has 
been distinguished into complete, and partial. It is com- 
plete, when in addition to Religious Liberty, the sub- 
ject is allowed to enjoy every privilege and office be- 
longing to the civil government. It is partial, when the 
subject is put under some political incapacity, though 
he may be allowed to enjoy his religious liberty in the 
fullest extent. A government that does not allow one 
of these sorts of Toleration, cannot be maintained with- 
out force. But there are many unanswerable arguments 
to be urged against employing force, in matters of faith, 
modes of worship, or forms of religious discipline. 

Force is unsuitable to the subject. True religion de- 
pends upon conviction j and all rational conviction de- 
pends upon evidence. Rut external force, whatever it 
may do to the body, can do nothing towards producing 
such a conviction. oNf ay, an attempt thus to insult and 
force our understanding, would naturally tend to the 
contrary way. Our Saviour gives no countenance to 
such an exercise of the civil power for the promotion of 
even truth and righteousness. " My kingdom," said he, 
" is not of this world : if my kingdom were of this world, 
then would my servants fight." John xviii. 36. " The 
weapons of the Christian's warfare, are not carnal, 
but mighty through God." 2 Cor. x. 4. Force is so 
far from assisting a man to get a proper understanding 
of divine truth, that it lends to prevent the necessary 
inquiries. The dread of the inquisition, or other pains^ 
or penalties, has often detered the timid from a prope r 



SIG A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

examination of the truths of* the gospel. And, on the 
other hand, perhaps in no one instance, did these things 
tend to produce a proper understanding of the truths 
which are after godliness. 

When a man attempts to propagate his own system 
of religion, by force, it furnishes a very strong argument 
against it. It is from weakness rather than strength of 
argument, that a man has recourse to compulsion. It is 
generally the man who has the wrong side of an argu- 
m©nt ? who loses his temper first ; and, perhaps, it is al- 
ways the party least in the right that has recourse to 
^oercivt; measures. At any rate, force is unnecessary 
to propagate truth, for "truth is great, and will prevail."' 

The experience which every truly Christian man has 
of his own ignorance and liability to err, will dispose 
him to exercise charity and forbearance towards those 
who differ from him in sentiment, and incline him 1© 
follow the advice of the apostle, 2 Tim. ii. 25. " In 
meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if 
God peradventure will give them rej^ntance to the ac-~ 
knowledgrnent of the truth." 

While force cannot propagate either truth or holiness* 
it powerfully tends to make hypocrites. Persecution 
destroys, or depresses, men of principle and integrity, 
and affords the most powerful temptations to hypocrisy 
and apostacy ; encourages the worst of men ; and gives 
the children's bread unto dogs. A noble army of mar- 
tyrs have, in various ages and nations, remained stead- 
fast and immoveable, and sometimes have endured tor- 
ture, not accepting deliverance, Heb. xi. but in too 
many instances the fear of suffering has induced men 
to make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. 

Intolerance, or persecution, for they are both the 
same, has often produced wars, or commotions, in dif- 
ferent countries : this was the case in Germany at the 
time of the reformation; in France, when a civil war 
commenced under the reign of Charles the Ninth, and 
continued for near thirty years ; and in the Low-Coun- 
tries, which terminated in the deliverance of Holland 
from the civil and ecclesiastical tyranny of Spain. — 
This same spirit had no small share in exciting the civil 
war in our own country, which produced such lameata* 
ble consequences 



PORTRAITURE O* METHODISM* oil 

This narrow coercive spirit, has a tendency to im- 
poverish, and even to depopulate a country. Men who 
are denied liberty in their native country, will be in- 
clined to seek for it elsewhere. And our Saviour's in- 
dulgent direction is, " when they persecute you in one 
city," or country, u flee to another." Consequently, 
when there was a persecution at Jerusalem, about Ste- 
phen, many of the Christians sought an asylum in dis- 
tant countries. Acts xi. 19. 

The persecuted may not go off in large bodies, or all 
at once. But many of them are sure to go, when cir- 
cumstances, under Providence, shall point out the way. 
The state will be drained of its best citizens, though 
perhaps gradually, and almost insensibly ; and the loss 
will be the more sensibly felt, as foreigners will not be 
inclined to put themselves under a government that 
would enslave the very soul as well as the body. His- 
tory affords striking illustrations of the truth oi this ob- 
servation, from Spain, France, and oilier countries, 
where persecution, or impolitic intolerance have reign- 
ed. The proscribed inhabitants left their native coun- 
try, and carried into other lands those arts and manu- 
factures with which they were not permitted to enrich 
their own. Similar causes will produce similar effects, 
wherever the same spirit is suffered to prevail. Before 
persecution, the land is as the garden of Eden, and bo 
hind it a desolate wilderness.. 

Intolerance is exceedingly degrading to national 
character. Every persecuting, government of former 
times, comes down to us in the page of history under a 
stigma. And Egypt, in which was probably the first 
national persecution, was laid under a heavy and last- 
ing curse, from which it is nut yet delivered. Stran- 
gers have ruled over it, and it has been for many ages 
the basest of ail kingdoms. Ezek. xxix. 15. 

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, was doomed to 
be as when G<od overthrew Sodom and -Gomorrah, and 
principally, because of ihe oppressions and miseries 
which U Babylonian? had heaped upon the seed of 
Jacob, who were then Gout's visible church. The ve» 
Ty name of Babylon is ha^idUKldown to ub loaded with 
infamy. And those they made to serve with hard :■ 
d d 2 



o!8 A TUUE AXD COMPLETE 

dange, are directed, in holy triumph over their perse^fc, 
tors, to say, " How hath the oppressor ceased ! the 
gulden city ceased I" &c. Isa„ xiv. 4 — 19. 

Mankind have an equal right to uncontrolled liberty 
of conscience, that is, a right to think and choose for 
themselves, in every thing purely religious. It is the 
unalienable birthright of every human being to choose 
his own religion, and to worship God as he thinks the 
best. God never gave any man, or number of men, 
authority to deprive any person whatsoever of this 
right. And yet, how often has this been attempted; 
and sometimes even in England. This was done par- 
ticularly by the Act of Uniformity, and the Act against 
conventicles. Both these disgrace the statute-book, and 
are a stain upon the former legislators of Britain. It is 
hoped, that a system so narrow, unjust, impolitic, and 
cruel, will n^ver be revised* But of this we have no 
absolute certainty. The spirit of persecution, in some 
form, exists in every country f and so long as this con- 
tinues to be the case, the principles of equal liberty, re- 
ligious as well as civil* will need to be studied, inculca- 
ted, and asserted. 

Many are ashamed to defend general persecution, but 
call our attention to the act of Toleration, as if all our 
rights were to be proved from it. Whereas that did not 
create any right, but merely declared that Englishmen 
should enjoy,, at least, some part of their rights. And 
if that act has not provided for the full, equal, unres- 
trained liberty of every man, in matters purely reli- 
gious, it will only prove that it ought to be extended, 
and not contracted. We do not prove our rights by that 
act ; but only claim them as far as that act will enable 
us. But those who passed that act had no authority to 
make it the exact measure of the liberty which should 
always be enjoyed in England. 

In tact, all ideas of toleration spring from the suppo* . 
aition of an authority which cannot be proved; All men 
are equally accountable to the Supreme Judge. And 
the notion of an authority to tolerate, implies equally a 
notion of a power to prohibit. But in what way can 
such an authority be proved ? In nothing is the Bishop 
of Rsme more justly the otjject of our indignation? than 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM* 319 

in his claiming dominion over conscience, as to arti- 
cles of faith, and forms of worship and discipline. The 
property, influence, wisdom, and even piety of any man, 
do not empower him to thrust himself in between God 
and the immortal souls of men ; and to usurp dominion 
over mens faith and religious practice. And whatev- 
er name may be given to such interference, Mr. Charles 
Wesley has justly observed, " 'Tis Babel, Antichrist, 
and Pope, and Devil." 

As yet, the Methodists have been content and thank- - 
ful. They revere and love the king, and have great 
confidence in his justice and royal protection. But it 
is said, " Something must be done to check the alarm- 
ing spread of Methodism." If Methodism be an evil, 
it ought to be checked; but if it be a good thing, no 
man can attempt to check it, without being found fight- 
ing against God. And " let the potsherds strive with 
the potsherds of the earth," Jet one earthly brittle gov* 
ernment go to war with another ; but " wo to the man 
who contendeth with his Maker," by opposing the in- 
struction, reformation, and salvation of mankind, through 
the instrumentality of a preached gospel. What right 
have you to say, This ought to be done only in a 
church? Shew me the passage of Scripture, that gives 
the slightest countenance to such an idea. For any 
thing written in the Bible, the Methodist preachers 
have as much divine authority for acting as they do, as 
the*«lergy have for their conduct. 

This principle of doing, something to check tlie growth 
exf Methodism, is the very same that Pharaoh and the 
task-masters acted upon, as may be seen, Exodus, chap- 
ter i. But the plan did not eventually succeed. For, 
though the people of God may be harassed and oppres- 
sed ; still they will be found the bush, which though 
burning in the fire, cannot be consumed. For, when 
oppressors obtain a momentary triumph over them, God 
overrules even that for the furtherance of the gospel, 
the promotion of his own glory, and the overthrow of 
persecutors. It is upon this ground, that I console my- 
self with a hope, that should the enemies of religious 
liberty, and of the Methodists, be permitted by a mys= 
terious Providence to x>a*row the act of toleration*, by 



MO A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

making some new restrictive laws,, it will be overruled 
for the accomplishment of some gracious design of God 
in conferring the greatest blessings upon mankind* 

It is a striking circumstance, that just at the time 
when general liberty of conscience is established upon 
the continent of Europe, when the Pope is dethroned 
and banished from Rome, when the inquisition is draw- 
ing its last horrid gasp in Spain and Portugal, that men 
should be found, even in England, which has so long 
been the asylum of eivil and religious liberty, who are 
forging chains for the most harmless, peaceable, and use- 
ful body of people in the nation. And it is to be at- 
tempted, it seems, in conformity with the plan of all 
persecutors of ancient times, namely; to guard religion 
against what would injure or disgrace it ! They have 
put on the face of a lamb; but if they can succeed in 
their enterprize, the act will be that of a lion. " Some- 
thing," say they, " is needful to be done: but we in- 
tend nothing contrary to a wise and enlightened tole- 
ration.'" 

Much has often been said upon the subject of Tolera- 
tion. Let us examine it. To worship God in any par- 
ticular way, must be either right or wrong. If it be 
right, it must be agreeable to God. And when a thing 
is agreable to God, is your displeasure, or the want of 
your license, or toleration, sufficient to make it wrong ? 
Presumptuous, sinful mortal 1 And, it is fairly implied, 
that even God himself shall not have rendered to him 
what is right, and agreeable to Jhim, without your per- 
mission ! The idea of toleration looks both to the wor- 
shipper and worshipped. ■< Had this always been attend- 
ed to, some acts of toleration would have struck men 
with horror. Suppose, for instance, some hearty, but 
unthinking friend, in the present circumstances, (1811) 
ghoul -1 more in parliament, for leave to bring in a bill, 
to tolerate Almighty God to be worshipped in buildings 
uncti merited by bishops, and to allow him to be pray- 
ed to, and spoke i of, in dwelling-houses* and even in 
the highways, and in the streets and lanes of cities and 
t<_ wm ; who w. <u!d n >t be struck with horror at the pro- 
f&neness c ouch a motion! Yet, this is implied, direct- 
ly or Indlrectiy, in all proposals for toleration in mat 
ters of religion. 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 321 

Upon due consideration, it would appear, that there 
really have been men who have seriously conceived the 
idea of conferring favours and liberties upon the Al- 
mighty, in matters belonging to religious worship. — 
Look into the celebrated Magna Charta,- or The Great 
Cluvrtcr of England, made in the Ninth year of King 
Henry the third, and confirmed by King Edward the 
first, in the five and twentieth year of his reign. Copi- 
ed from " Statutes at large," vol. i* The latter part 
of the preamble says, " Know ye, that we, unto the 
honour of Almighty God, and for the salvation of fhe 
souls of our progenitors and successors, Kings of Eng- 
land, &e. of our mere and free will, have given and 
granted these liberties following : — 

" FiT3t, WE HAVE GRANTED TO GOD, titld by this OUT 

present Charter have confirmed^ for us and for oup heirs 
for ever, that the church of England shall be free, and 
shall have all her whole rights and liberties inviolable." 

Is not every man struck with horror at the arrogance 
of a poor sinful worm taking upon himself, in the plen- 
itude of his bounty and condescension, to make grants 
unto the author of his being and every blessing, the 
high and the lofty One, who inhabiteth eternity ! And 
if the arrogant presumption of man, can induce him to 
think, that he has conferred favours upon, or made 
grants to Almighty God, then surely he must expect 
the Almighty will one day acknowledge the obligation, 
and return him thanks. 

Our Saviour's well known words are decisive in this 
case; " Render unto Cassar the things that are Caesar's, 
and unto God the things that are God's." Ccesar, or 
the Roman emperor, was their supreme civil governor, 
and included all the subordinate governors, as they all 
derived their authority from him, and acted under him* 
And what things were his ? and what things are be* 
longing to civil governors in general ? Why, 

1. They have aright to "tribute" or taxes. As 
they have to pay the expenses of governing and pro- 
tecting their respective empires, which government 
and protection were instituted for the general benefit of 
the inhabitants, it is right that they should each pay a 
reasonable share of the expenses. And I will venture 



o%% A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

to say, that the Methodists pay their share of taxes, at 
least as faithfully and cheerfully as any church people, 
in the same ranks and circumstances of life. 

2. As money alone will not enable Caesar, or the civ- 
il power, to govern and protect the empire, men bear- 
ing arms will also be wanted. And do the Methodists 
refuse to take their share in the regular or local militia ? 
And do they not, in this branch of public service, ac- 
quit themselves with as much care and propriety as any 
churchman ? 

I must observe, 3. That they do not refuse to pay 
tithes, or other church-rates ; nor have they any design 
to abolish or alienate these revenues of the clergy.— 
Can Caesar desire any thing more? Can he demand any 
thing more, without demanding " the things which are 
God's ?" Here it is needful to observe, first, the civil 
government has no right to command what is contrary 
to the commandments of God, even in what relates to 
the body, our fellow-creatures, and the present world.— 
Secondly, civil governors have no right at all to inter- 
fere between God and the souls of men. Civil govern- 
ment and religion, are two things which ought to be to- 
tally separate from each other. Yet, if governors choose 
to have a certain religion of their own, and to call it 
the religion of the nation, I shall not oppose them, and 
hope they will allow me the same liberty they claim 
for themselves. Were I a governor, I should want 
nothing more from my subjects. And if they were 
subjects who are now governors, I believe they would 
want nothing less than what I am contending for as a 
general right. 

Will the persons who want to prescribe to me what 
opinion I shall believe, the form in which I shall wor- 
ship God, and the rules of church government, by which 
they wish me to be regulated, undertake to answer for 
me at the day of judgment, and to ensure my eternal 
salvation, provided I comply with their wishes ? And, 
if they should undertake this, can I, with confidence 
and due security, leave the matter in their hands ? 

Let human governors " study to be quiet, and mind 
their own business," and rest assured that the Almigh-> 
ty will mind his. Let them rule in the fear of the 



P0RTRA1TUKE 0¥ METHODISM. 323 

Lord in civil affairs, and prove themselves to be the 
ministers of God for good. Meantime, without their 
obtrusive interference, the ark of God will be upheld, 
the heavenly King will rule in Zion, and the world will 
witness, that he who keepeth Israel neither slumbereth 
nor sleepeth. 

If, from the day of Pentecost to the present time* 
Christianity had been left to itself and its Author, ww- 
hclped as well as unhindered by human authority, what 
would have been the state of the church of Christ, and 
of the world at large this day ? Human authority in 
matters of religion has, in ten thousand instances, been 
the worm at the root of the gourd. And in how many 
instances has it been of any real service to religion ? 
Let God and the devil, truth and error, fight it fairly 
out, and victory will declare itself on the right side. 

It is of importance to remark, that while our Saviour's 
apostles, in imitation of their master, "rendered to Caesar 
the things that were Caesar's," they paid no attention 
to Caesar in matters of religion. Nay, they never so 
much as waited or sought for an act of toleration, or a 
license from any court, to qualify them, to " go into all 
the world, to preach the gospel to every creature/' 
either in Judea, (where there was an established church, 
and one established by God himself,) at Antioclfc at 
Ephesus, Corinth, or any other place which they vis- 
ited. 

Had such an act of government existed, and been 
conformed to, in Judea, and the other countries where 
the gospel was planted by the apostles, as that which 
some have mentioned, the glad tidings of salvation had 
never been published to the world. Read the New- 
Testament, and the Acts of the Apostles especially, 
and then say, whether the gospel could have been pro- 
pagated at all. 

1. If no person had been allowed to preach, but those 
who did nothing else, the apostle Paul himself must 
have been silent ; for he often wrought at tent-making. 

2. If no person had been " allowed to preach to 
more than one congregation," nor to that without a 
license, the gospel could not have been propagated, and 



§2& A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

the world had still remained in darkness ami the star 
dow of death. 

3. Had a certificate of their character been require*!, 
a petition for their license to preach, and that even be- 
fore they had preached in any place, they could never 
have goae " into all the world, and preached the gospel 
to every creature." The apostled had no certificate 
from the rulers of Jerusalem, nor did they seek for any 
such authority. The case would have been the same, 
if it had been enacted, " that there shall be no preach- 
ing except in some place built for the purpose." Hard- 
ly ever did the apostles preach in a place of this des- 
cription; nor Jesus Christ, except a few times. Enra- 
ged as the devil was, at the first spread of truth and 
righteousness, and numerous and active as priests were,, 
both Jewish and Pagan, it is surprising that no person 
was employed to carry such an antichristian plan into 
execution. 

Lord S has said, " So many unfit persons take 

upon them to preach, that he feared for the understanding 
of the country" But, I appeal to the nation at large, 
whether those who have attended the preaching of the 
Methodists be increased or decreased in understanding : 
and whether they are inferior or superior in understand- 
ing to church people in the same ranks in society, and 
of the same degrees of education. I ask this especial- 
ly, as it respects understanding on spiritual subjects: 
for if this preaching has darkened or perverted the un- 
derstanding of the hearers of it in any thing, it must be 
upon that subject which these preachers confine all 
their attention and discourse to. Can any person bring 
forward an equal number of church people, of the same 
ranks in society, and of the same degrees of education^ 
who will be found more able to converse upon all the 
essential doctrines of the Christian religion ? The Me- 
thodists, with all their reputed ignorance, have nothing 
to dread from a comparison of this nature. 

The way in which some statesmen and divines speak 
upon the subject of toleration, conveys the idea, that 
they think it a special act of kindness, to permit any 
thing in religion but what they fully approve of. But* 
liberty of conscience is the common and equal right oi 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 323 

all. This ought not to be considered as a thing enjoy- 
ed upon mere sufferance. There are some roads, which 
are used upon mere sufferance^ but which the proprie- 
tors may stop when they choose : while common roads 
are equally the property of all who choose to travel 
them. Now the path of unrestrained liberty of con- 
science, is no road to be travelled upon mere sufferance. 
Let those who think otherwise prove their opinion from 
the scriptures. 

Should any one say, " that even upon the most pub- 
lic roads, there are turnpike-gates which the traveller 
must wait at, and pay for the opening of;" I answer, 
that is in consequence of certain persons undertaking to 
improve the roads, and keep them in repair. But, the 
road to heaven cannot be improved, nor can any man 
undertake to keep it in repair. Besides, of this road, 
no " commissioners" have been appointed, nor gate- 
renters engaged. Here is a strait gate, and a narrow 
way ; but no persons have been employed to tend the 
one or mend the other. Meantime, persons of different 
sentiments, modes of worship, and religious connexions, 
may enter the gate, and walk in the way. And no au- 
thority can be proved from scripture, to belong to a 
minister of an established church, as a surveyor, or 
controller of the way, any more than to any other min- 
isters. Rather, we might say, they are all equally ex- 
cluded. The road is made; it never wants mending ; 
and it has no surveyor, controller, or superintendent, 
but He who is the way, as well as the truth and the 
life. There is a way, a high way, and it shall be called 
The way of holiness. 

Whatever absurdity or impropriety there may be at- 
tached to the idea of toleration, no blame attaches to 
the present royal family of Britain. The Toleration 
Act was passed between twenty and thirty years be^ 
fore the house of Hanover ascended the throne of these 
realms. At the time of enacting that statute, and also 
before and after that period, the universal right of lib- 
erty touching religion, was but imperfectly understood. 
It is to the honour of the reigning family, that they have* 
never manifested the smallest desire to infringe upon 
religious liberty j and that any changes which may 

E e 



326 A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

have taken place upon this point in the laws of th#- 
land, have all been on the favourable side. The Meth- 
odists are very sensible of, and grateful for, the never 
failing attention of the King to their rights, when ap- 
plication has been made to him. As circumstances 
were when the Brunswick family began their reign in 
England, and have continued since, they could not well 
have attempted to do more in favour of liberty of con- 
science than they have done. 

The inconsistency of the charges of the clergy 
against the Methodist preachers must not pass totally 
unnoticed. 

They have generally and long pretended to despise 
the Methodist preachers, as being few, but especially as 
being so insignificant, so ignorant, and every way un- 
qualified and insufficient to make any great impression 
on the public at large, or ever ebtain any greater, gene- 
ral influence* But the present general outcry seems to 
speak a great change of sentiment. The idea perpetu- 
ally held up to the public, and vociferated from Dan to 
Beersheba is, that the Methodist preachers are so form- 
idable, and so rapidly becoming more and more terrific 
to these learned and duly qualified gentlemen, that un- 
less the temporal sword come forth to their assistance, 
very shortly a few persons, which they call " ignorant 
mechanics," or ** insufficient and unauthorized teach- 
ers," will lay all the power, honours, and influence of 
archbishops, bishops, and 18,000 clergymen, which 
they represent as the most pious, rational, learned, and 
valuable men in the world, in the dust. But if either 
of these ideas be true, if the Methodist preachers be so 
contemptible from their want of abilities, or if so nume- 
rous a body as the clergy, be so very respectable, and 
everyway fitted for the work of the ministry, and per- 
manent influence, this alarm must be ill founded. Let 
them take which side of the argument they like best : 
but both sides they cannot take without flagrant con- 
tradiction. 

There are nearly forty times as many clergy of the 
established church in England as there are itinerant 
Methodist preachers. Surely forty learned aad respect- 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 3&7 

able clergymen, aided by the temporal sword, must be 
more than a match for one Methodist preacher. 

Had the doctrines of the Methodists been contrary 
to those of the church of England, and even contrary 
to the Bible, no person can show any scriptural author- 
ity for interfering in religious opinions, nor even in 
modes of worship. And should they say, truth ought 
to be defended, and error opposed, I ask, Who made 
them rulers or judges in such matters ? Whatever may 
be wrong in the church ©f Christ, whether in doctrine 
or discipline, it is not the business of the civil power, 
but of the church itself, to rectify the same. Or, if 
what is wrong cannot be rectified, then to perform such 
acts of discipline as the case may require. And here 
the utmost care will be necessary to avoid blind, rash, 
or intemperate zeal, and to let pure unadulterated scrip- 
ture, in the hands of Christian charity, direct and 
guide. To insist upon the contrary, is to have re- 
course to the argument^, or rather the fallacies of the 
church of Rome, in opposition to every branch and 
stage of the reformation. Scripture alone ought to be 
appealed to, and every man be allowed the right of 
forming his own opinion as to its genuine meaning. — 
And unless some human beings did really possess what 
the Pope had so long falsely pretended to, namely, infal- 
libility ^ and the keys of the kingdom of 'heaven, no man 
has a right to dictate to another. In this point of priv- 
ilege, " no one is before or after another." And as 
every man must give an account of himself, so every 
man should judge for himself. 

Of late years, the Methodists have attracted much 
public attention, and the clergy of the established 
church have appeared to be alarmed at the rapid spread 
of Methodism. This alarm has been proclaimed in nu- 
merous publications from the press. These fears of the 
clergy appear to have been infused into some members 
of Parliament. A purpose to enact some restrictive 
statute, which might prevent the increase of Methodists 
and Dissenters, has been announced. But the persons 
who have engaged in the business have appeared very 
much at a loss in what way to proceed. Doubt- 
less they wis]* to do something, and something very se- 



&2$ A ffRUE AND COMPLETE 

rious too 5 but they seem not to know how to go about 
it, without exciting an alarm* They fear the effect 
which such a measure might produce, especially in 
such times as the present. There can be little doubt 
that this has been the chief, if not the sole cause why 
the business has not been formally brought forward be- 
fore now. My opinion is, that Providence has permit- 
ted certain convulsions and distresses for the preserva- 
tion of his own people. The weapon, it is believed, 
has been formed and prepared against them, during 
some years. But something has still happened, to fill 
the hands of those who were disposed to strike, with 
other work, and their hearts with doubtful apprehen- 
sions, so that the business has been repeatedly postpo- 
ned to a more convenient season. And if those who 
fear God, and call upon his name, continue to cry day 
and night unto Him, the Lord who saved Israel from 
the execution of the cruel designs of Haman and his 
associates, will screen them from all the crafts and as- 
saults of men and devils. Here is the great and effect- 
ual resource of the genuine Christian when threatened 
with danger. My Christian brethren, " trust in the 
Lord at all times;" " continue in prayer," and "no wea- 
pon formed against you shall prosper, but every tongue 
which rises in judgment, he shall condemn." 

If any proposal should at last be seriously brought 
forward in order to abridge our religious liberties, I 
think it probable it will be considerably narrowed and 
fritted down from what certain circumstances led us 
to expect. The whole measure, in all its original 
parts, may be deemed impracticable, at least at the pre- 
sent. But when this softened measure shall have some- 
what settled upon the stomach, something more may be 
done, and that, perhaps, under the pretence of explain- 
ing and amending the former act. It is evident there 
is a great unwillingness to be explicit as to what is in- 
tended or desired to be done. 

The active persons in this business will probably 
avow themselves the friends of toleration ; and perhaps 
may go so far as to say, they believe the measure will 
meet the approbation of the general body of Dissenters. 
But such declarations should be received with susp*- 



PORTRAITURE OF METHODISM. 329 

cion, or at least with great caution. For (1.) it has 
been the general practice of those who have exerted 
themselves against religion, in whatever age or nation, 
to make pretensions oi friendship and zeal lor religion* 
They have generally, if not always pretended, that 
they only wanted to check dangerous and growing evils, 
and to secure orthodoxy and order. (2.) Those who 
profess friendship to the dissenters, would give better 
proofs of their sincerity in such professions, by letting 
them alone. But such declarations are thought to be 
convenient for allaying suspicion, and lulling the in- 
tended victims asleep, till the fetters be quite ready for 
putting on, or the mine be prepared for springing. 

(3.) It is possible that some one denomination of 
Dissenters would be glad if restrictions were put upon 
other denominations. Suppose, for instance, those 
whose ministers uniformly pass through an academical 
training, or some of those who have a settled ministry 
among them, might be pleased to see a law made to 
prohibit every thing of a contrary description. And if 
the design which is in contemplation should be carried 
into execution, one sort of Dissenters may be left un- 
touched, and perhaps be flattered, till the others be 
bound hand and foot. Dissenters of every denomina- 
tion should be aware of this, and unitedly oppose every 
infringement upon our present liberties. For if an in- 
fringement take place in one instance, it may then be 
the more easy to make another and another, till liberty 
or toleration may almost cease to exist except in name. 

(4.) If Lord S • be really desirous of preventing 

or removing improprieties in the Christian ministry, 
let him turn his first attention to the clergy of the es- 
tablished church. Are there no defects there as to 
" age, capacity, or character V Physician heal thyself. 
"First cast the beam out of thine own eye, and then 
shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy broth- 
ers eye." 

As to age, the New-Testament fixes no particular 
age under which a man may not preach. The law of 
Moses says something upon this head, but I apprehend 
that is not binding upon Christians. And it is full as 
peremptory respecting being too old as too young ; there- 

e e 2 



330 A THUE AKi) COMPLETE 

fore a priest was not to officiate after he was fifty years 
old. Of the two, the being very young, is far more tol- 
erable than being too old. The young man will be 
mending of this imperfection every day, while the old 
man's detects will every day increase. Besides, should 
we adopt the Mosaic regulations respecting age in 
those who minister in holy things, insuperable objec- 
tions will be raised against most of those who are made 
bishops. Few of these put on the mitre till they are 
more than fifty years of age. If it be said, "they do 
not attempt to preach much;" I answer, so much the 
worse. TJnpr caching prelates have always been consid- 
ered by the wisest and best of men, as serious evils. — 
The examination of candidates for the ministry, the re- 
jection of improper ones, and ordination of those who 
are fitted for the work and office, must be allowed to be 
very important, and to require the full vigour and ex- 
ercise of the intellectual powers as much as any thing 
$one by the priests in the tabernable or the temple. 

When objection is made to the capacity of some Meth- 
odist preachers and Dissenting ministers, I have no 
scruple in affirming, that even the feeblest among them 
will suffer no disgrace from a comparison with some of 
the clergy of the establishment. 

But " the chief object," says Lord S , " which 

I have in view, is to require from a person intending to 
act under a license, a certificate from the congregation 
or sect to which he belongs, that he is a competent per- 
son, in their opinion, to the discharge of the duties of a 
preacher, and that it is at their recommendation he ' ap- 
plies for the license." This is intended for the pur- 
pose of throwing obstacles in the way of Dissenters.* — 
It is true, it would be easy for most of those who apply 
for licenses to obtain such certificates. But the whole 
scheme implies such an acknowledgment of human au- 
thority in matters of religion, as is inconsistent with 
the word of God. And might we not say, that if Dis- 
senting ministers and Methodist preachers should have 
such a certificate in order to be licensed, would it not 
be equally proper that candidates for episcopal ordina- 
tion should have something similar ? And ought not all 



P0RTI1AITUKE OP METHODISM. S31 

who are made rectors, vicars, &c. to have such a certifi- 
cate from the parishes they are appointed to. 

Many persons will not see, or at least will not admit, 
what are the real causes of the increase of Dissenters 
and Methodists. These, I have estimated, are the ma- 
king men Christian ministers who are not Christians; 
the defective plan of appointing them to their respec- 
tive charges; and the lax discipline which so generally 
prevails. 

Perhaps some may expect me to say something on 
the influence of Methodism. And. 1. Its influence on its 
own members. Out of the thousands, and tens of thou- 
sands, who have become Methodists, I believe there 
has not been one instance of any person becoming less 
moral in consequence of being a Methodist. There may 
have been a few instances of persons who have crept in 
among them, from unrighteous motives, whose morals 
have been exceptionable; but this was not the fault of 
Methodism. It was not an effect of which Methodism 
was the cause. 

In ninety-nine out of a hundred, the change of mo- 
rals for the better has been visible, and in many in- 
tances most remarkably striking. A noble lord dolo- 
rously observed, what an affecting sight it was to see 
so many insufficient teachers apply to the quarter ses- 
sions for licenses. But, if he would have proved Pdeth- 
odism to be a real and alarming evil, he should have 
been able to tell, what an astonishing number of Metho- 
dists were to be tried for riots, thefts, and other offences 
against the public welfare at the quarter sessions, and 
also at the assizes. But alas t he could not have men- 
tioned this, without awakening the general recollection, 
that scarcely was there ever a Methodist brought to tri- 
al for felony, burglary, or grand or petty larceny, since 
Methodism had an existence. Some few persons of this 
offending description, and but a very few, may have had 
the name of Methodist. But in such cases, without a 
single exception, the name has either been given them 
wrongfully altogether, or they have been backsliders 
from Methodism. They are neither Methodists nor 
Dissenters, who fill our prisons, stand at the bar for trial 
at quarter sessions and assizes, swing upon our gallowses. 



^33 A TIIUE AND COMPLETE 

dwell on board the hulks, and are sent to people New*- 
Holland. Among culprits, Methodists are never found ; 
while among all the promoters of every institution for 
the public good, they frequently constitute the majori- 

(2.) Methodism contributes to promote mental im- 
provement* The Methodists very generally improve 
in useful knowledge, of other descriptions as well as 
religious. And as to the silly charge of Methodism tur- 
ning people mad, it scarcely deserves notice. There is 
no demonination of people but have some insane people 
among them ; witness the Quakers, who have a large 
mad-house near York, called " The Friends' Retreat," 
in which are many patients. But, of all the mad peo- 
ple in England, I dare venture to affirm, that ninety- 
nine out of every hundred are neither Methodists nor 
Dissenters. And in general, it was not religion, but 
something much worse than even enthusiasm, that 
brought on the delirium. It is not in the nature and 
tendency of true piety to make its votaries go mad, but 
rather to promote a sound mind and a good understand- 
ing. 

(3.) Methodism powerfully tends to improve the tem- 
poral circumstances of those who have embraced it : 
religion at once promotes industry and frugality. The 
godly man sees the sinfulness of sloth ; and he cannot, 
as formerly, spend his money in sinful gratifications, nor 
even in what some call innocent trifles. He considers 
himself a steward of the property he has in his hands, 
and that he must shortly account to God for it. And 
though his contributions to support and propagate relig- 
ion may amount to something considerable, yet this is a 
trifle compared with the temporal advantages he derives 
from religion. Hence, it is a fact, which cannot with 
truth be denied, that the Methodists in general, are more 
rich than they were before they became such. 

(4.) Under its influence, parents have restrained their 
children from wild and foolish conduct ; have set them 
a good example, and instilled into them religious in- 
struction : the same remark will apply to masters and 
servants. 

(5.) The active concern of the Methodists has not 



rORTRAITURE OF METHODISM:. 333 

been confined to their own families. They have done 
more than all the other denominations of Christians, in 
establishing supporting, teaching, and encouraging Sun- 
day-schools. 

(6.) They have not only been among the foremost to 
aid every charity of previous establishment, but they 
have instituted new ones, and especially The Benevolent 
Society, for the relief of the sick poor in numerous pla- 
ces, and " Strangers Friend Society" for the relief of 
poor destitute strangers. 

They have had a principal hand, both in establishing 
and supporting the Sunday-schools in most parts of the 
nation. These schools are principally taught by Meth- 
odists, and that gratuitously. And in some places the 
Methodists are among the principal supporters of chari- 
ty-schools. 

Methodism might expostulate with her enemies and 
persecutors, and say, " Many good works have I show- 
ed you : for which of those works do ye stone me ?" 
John x. 32. And when these persecutors would rouse 
the civil magistrate to make use of force against the 
Methodists, he may justly ask, in the language of Pilate, 
" Why ? what evil have they done ?" Mark xv. 14 — 
YV & may most truly say of Methodism, that she ought 
to b j " well reported of for good works; that she has 
brought up children ; has lodged strangers : has washed 
the saints feet ; has relieved the afflicted ; and has dil- 
gently followed every good work." 1 Tim. v, 10. — 
Methodism has fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and 
visited the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, 
nor has she neglev ted the sick, or the imprisoned. If 
men will not believe the doctrines of Methodism, let 
them at least give due honour to its beneficent influence. 

A few of the more opulent and benevolent among 
the Methodists, some few years ago, thought that some 
of their own itinerant preachers were very proper ob- 
jects of charity, especially such as had large families, 
no private property, in poor circuits, and visited with 
family sickness. These considerate and generous Chris- 
tians, therefore, instituted what they termed " The 
Preaehers Friend Society" 

Tp support this institution, individuals in different 



33* A TRUE AND COMPLETE 

parts of the nation, contributed half a guinea, a guinea, 
and some more, annually. A committee in London un- 
dertake the management of it, but neither the confer- 
ence, nor any of the travelling preachers, have any 
thing to do with it. The committee get the best in- 
formation they can respecting preachers who may be 
in distressed circumstances, and often surprize them by 
sending very seasonable relief. The committee pub- 
lish an annual report of their receipts and disbursements, 
accompanied by extracts of letters received from 
preachers who have been relieved. Many of these 
extracts are very affecting, and calculated to make 
even " Misers wonder they should part with gold." 

(7.) Methodism has had a great, and very beneficial 
effect upon the morals of the inhabitants of England at 
large, as well as Ireland. It has accomplished already, 
an extensive reformation. This has not been equal 
in all places. But its greatest enemies cannot deny, 
that a great change for the better has been effected in 
districts the most notorious for every vice. And as 
vice is perpetually progressive, it is impossible to form 
an adequate conception of the desperate state of wick- 
edness they might have arrived at by this time, had it 
not been for this very efficacious remedy provided by a 
gracious God! 

And is the nation arrived at such a pitch of reforma- 
ation and piety, that there is no more occasion for the 
labours of men who have been so useful in the hand of 
God ? Is there such general purity, righteousness, so- 
briety, among all ranks of men, from the least even un- 
to the greatest, that gospel labours, which have been so 
successful, ought to be restrained, or contracted within 
narrow limits? In this cloudy and dark day," this 
day of the trumpet and alarm," is it seasonable, is it 
wise and politic, to fetter those who cry day and night 
to God, in behalf of their neighbours, the king and gov- 
ernment, as well as the nation at large ?" 

It is with pleasure I this moment recollect the follow- 
ing anecdote : — Not many years ago, when one told 
our good king, that the Methodists prayed for him; the 
king answered, " I place more confidence in the pray- 
ers of my people^ than ia my fleets and arm|e& ." In 



j^oitfftitT'imE or methodise. w ^ 

such cases, kings may be said to be nursing fathers, and 
queens, nursing mothers of the church of Christ. And, 
upon every occasion, thus far, the king has proved him- 
self our firm friend, and has laid us under obligations to 
love and pray for him. But our chief dependence must 
be upon a higher Being. While we look up to the 
king, with all due confidence in his justice and piety, 
we must remember who it is that says, " Trust not in 
princes, nor in any child of man : for there is no help in 
them" But while we fear God, duly honour and pray 
for the king, and commit our cause to him who is 
" King of kings, and Lord of lords" we have the best 
assurance of being able to sing, " The Lord of Hosts 

IS WITH US, THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR REFUGE." 

Amen. 



APPENDIX. 



London* Feb. 24th, 1812. 

To the Superintendent oftlie 

Circuit. 

Dear Sir, 

THE General Committee of Privileges are informed 
by letters, from various parts of the country, that 
considerable uneasiness has been excited by the refu- 
sal of Magistrates to administer the oaths, under the Act 
of Toleration, to several of our preachers, and by the 
threatenings of some persons to enforce the penalties of 
the conventicle and other obsolete acts, on our peacea- 
ble societies. 

The Committee, therefore, think it necessary to ad- 
dress a Circular Letter to the Superintendents on the oc- 
casion : in the first place, to quiet the minds of our 
people; and secondly, to assure them that the members 
of the Committee, resident in London, are anxiously 
watching over their concerns, and neglecting nothing 
which appears necessary to be done, in order to secure 
a continuance of those inestimable privileges which 
have proved so highly beneficial to our Societies, and 
so much promoted the happiness and prosperity of the 
British nation. 

As a People, we can appeal to God for the sincerity 
and purity of our motives ; and we can as confidently 
appeal to our Country for the great success of our exer- 
tions* God has greatly improved the state of society 
by the labours of our Preachers, and multitudes, who 
were as destitute of true religion as of the principles of 
loyalty, have become, under their teaching, genuine 
Christians, useful members to the community, and firm 
fronds to the Laws, to their King, and to their Coun? 



APPENDIX. 337 

try. And although, like the primitive Christians, we 
are traduced and slandered by an ungodly world, who 
wilfully shut their eyes against the light, and by many 
who might know better, but for their determined preju- 
dices ; yet we can rejoice with the Apostle, " in the 
testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly 
sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of 
God, we have had our conversation in the world ;" and 
we may say to our adversaries, of the great work wrought 
among us, that if this counsel, or this work, had beeii 
of men, it would long ere this have come to nought; 
but seeing it is so evidently of God, they cannot over- 
throw it, and those who attempt it will probably be 
found fighting against Gtifc. 

As many of our frieudPRi the country wish for direc- 
tions how to act under present circumstances, we say, 
Go on in the name of the Lord,jusi as you nave done*— 
fearing God—- honouring the King— working righteous- 
ness—* and endeavouring bf all means to persuade sin- 
ners to flee from the wrath to come. 

We most heartily respect the laws of our country, 
but we hold it as a most sacred and unalienable right of 
conscience, that every man should be allowed to teach 
the eternal verities of our Holy Religion to all who are 
willing to be taught by him ; and although all well-re- 
gulated Societies and denominations of Christians will 
exercise their own rules for the admission of public or 
private teachers among themselves, yet we most tena- 
ciously disclaim all right of the civil magistrate to inter- 
fere in these sacred matters, while our teachers are act- 
ing in obedience to the laws in all other respects, and 
preaching the sound doctrines of the purest morality, 
according to the Holy Scriptures. 

We are therefore, decidedly and unanimously of opin- 
ion, that our Preachers, Class Leaders, Prayer Leaders, 
Exhorters, Visitors of the Sick, Sunday School Teach- 
ers, &c. &c. should go on as usual, in their respective 
duties. 

Places for Public Worship should be registered as 
heretofore ; but if any persons should imbibe a persecu- 
ting spirit, and choose to levy penalties on any of our 
unoffending people, we recommend that the latter should 

f f 



S3& APPENDIX. 

suffer distress on their goods, or imprisonment of their 
persons, rather than pay any penalties for worshiping 
God agreeably to the dictates of their consciences. 

If however, we should be called to suffer, let us suffer 
in a Christian Spirit, in all meekness ; praying for our 
enemies, ever remembering, that if we even give our 
bodies to be burned, and have not Charity, it profiteth 
us nothing. Hence let us not act in a spirit of strife or 
vain glory, but " in meekness instructing those that 
Oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them 
repentance, to the acknowledging of the truth." 

The Members of our Committee resident in London, 
are very active ; and although some of our friends in the 
country have complained tlj| nothing was doing, be- 
cause they heard not from us?8pet every prudential mea- 
sure has been adopted which was deemed necessary. — 
Borne trials are pending before the Court of King's 
Bench, respecting the refusal of Magistrates to qualify 
Preachers, which will be decided next Term, in the 
months of April and May. 

We can hardly suppose, that all the late proceedings 
of Magistrates can be supported, but till the law on this 
subject be fully ascertained, we do not wish to propose 
any measures which might needlessly agitate the public 
mind. 

In order to consult the disposition of His Majesty's 
Government, a Deputation of the Committee have wait- 
ed on the Right Honourable the Chancellor of the Ex- 
chequer, Mr. Perceval, who very politely and patiently 
attended to a statement of our case and situation. It 
was scarcely to be expected that Mr. Perceval could 
offer any decided opinion on the means of relief to be 
afforded, if any should be found necessary, till the Law 
be completely settled; but we are happy to state that 
we were assured, that His Majesty's Government will not 
sanction any kind of religious persecution or intolerance ; 
and indeed it must be obvious, that it would be the height 
of indiscretion for any Government to attempt to destroy 
Religious Liberty, when it has taken such firm and ex- 
tensive root as in this country, and where it has been so 
very beneficial to the State, as well as to the individuals : 
for it has been the grand means of uniting the hearts of 



APPENDIX. 8S0 

His Majesty's subjects to his Person and Government, 
on the purest principles, and with the most steady and 
ardent affection. 

The vast number of members of our Societies and 
Congregations, and of other denominations of Christians, 
bear such a great proportion to the population of the 
country, that any general measures to abridge religious 
liberty would, at all times, and more especially in the 
present, be attended with very serious results. We 
should therefore, even as lovers of our country, as well 
as lovers of the cause of God, pray earnestly for the 
peace of Zion : and the practical effects of any uneasi- 
ness which may have been excited, should lead us to 
teach our Societies the inestimable value of our privi- 
leges, and to supplicate God for his grace more than 
ever to improve them ; and that we may not, as a peo- 
ple, forfeit our liberties by our misimprovement, nor 
learn their true value by their loss. 

If circumstances should arise to render it necessary 
again to apply to Government, or ultimately to Parlia- 
ment, the Committee will not fail to use every pruden- 
tial measure which may be judged expedient ; and they 
sincerely desire an interest in the prayers of the people, 
that they may be directed to act aright. In the mean- 
time they would recommend our friends not to join in 
any petitions to Parliament, unless they receive official 
communications from their Committee ; and we would 
most earnestly request, that neither preachers nor peo- 
ple will publish any thing on the subject, unless it be first 
proposed to the Committee, who have certainly, from 
their general information, the best means of judging of 
the expediency of any measures to be adopted. But 
the Committee invite, and will most gladly receive, any 
hints from their friends in the country, and avail them- 
selves of every offer of service in the great cause for 
which they are so zealously engaged. 

It is extremely desirable to prevent the clashing of a 
diversity of opinions and operations, and it is absolute- 
ly necessary to preserve an union of sentiment, in order 
to secure united exertions ; and while the Committee 
Invite information on every subject of importance, 
which they beg may be particularly accurate in all it» 



^40 APPENDIX. 

details, they pledge themselves to communicate intelli*. 
gence to their country friends from time to time, as it* 
may be deemed necessary. 

Committing the whole into His hands, who will 
rule and govern His church universal in the right way* 
We are, 

Dear Sir, 

Your affectionate Friends arid Servants 5 
(Signed, by order of the Committee) 

JOHN BARBER, Chairman. 
JOS. BUTTERWORTH, Secretary. 

N. B. If you think proper you will read this letter to 
the Society 9 and it may be a means of stirring them up 
to be more earnest in private prayer, and more diligent 
In all the means of grace. 



RELIGIOUS TOLERATION. 

No man in this assembly more decidedly than my- 
" self abhors the spirit of religious intolerance in 
" principle, or would more sensibly regret the least 
;s approximation to the practice of persecution.— 
w Whilst I lament the deviation in doctrines amongst 
ct the various Dissenters from those of the estab- 
M lished church, I cannot but look on them with 
w that charity which is due to the opinions of well 
" disposed and well meaning men in search of truth. 
" in a matter of such momentuous importance to all. 
u In this great work of inquiry and investigation, 
" the contributions of each should be received, if 
u not with gratitude, at least with indulgence. As 
" it concerns all, it should be a source of continued 
" pccupation and reflection. The sacred writings are 
" the henificent gift of God to man : the interpretation 
" therefore of scripture is the proper study and business 
" of mankind. Ey all Protestants, Dissenters, or of 
" the Establishment, the sacred writings are consid- 
M ered to be the great standard of religious doctrine, 
A - and to embrace all the articles of our faith on earth, 
" and our hopes of futurity. It is not wonderful 






AP?£NBIX» 3M 

;t therefore, when such universal interest is excited 
m throughout the whole mass of Protestants, that 
" their interpretation should be an object of the ut- 
" most anxiety. The interpretation of them howev- 
'" er is unfortunately extremely liable to error, espe- 
*' cially in speculative points of doctrine. Uniformi- 
" ty of religion therefore is not, nor cannot be ex- 
" pected ; the minds of men are too differently con- 
structed to enable them all to see even the same 
M things through the same medium. Coercion there- 
" fore can be of no avail in producing uniformity of 
" opinion, in matters of religion it must ever be con- 
" sidered unwise and impolitic, and by no means 
" calculated to produce the end which it is sought to 
" attain. Coercion has never been the practice of 
" the English established church, nor do I believe 
* it ever will."* 



From the determinations of the Court of King*s 
Bench, and several Courts of Quarter Sessions, the Act 
of Toleration has received a construction which shows 
that act to be insufficient for the protection of a great 
multitude of persons professing religion. It therefore 
becomes necessary to apply to Parliament for relief. 
To convey some information on this important subject, 
which excites such general interest, it has been 
thought proper to republish a Letter of the late la- 
mented Chancellor of the Exchequer, together with 
the opinion of the Court of King's Bench, in the case 
of the King v. the Justices of Gloucestershire ; also a 
Letter to the late Mr. Perceval; and the Conventicle 
and Five Mile Acts. From these it may in some de- 
gree be seen to what extent the relief should apply. 

* The Archbishop of Canterbury's Speech in the House of 
Lords, on Viscount Sidmouth's Bill, May 2! 5 MIL 
f f 2 



8*3 APPENDIX* 

(COPY.) 

Downing-sfrcet, April 10, 1811. 
Sir, 

Having had an opportunity in the course of the late 
recess, to consider with my colleagues the subject of 
your communication on the part of the Dissenters, 1 pro* 
ceed to acquaint you, as I promised, with our opinion 
upon it. 

It appears to us, that the interpretations recently giv- 
en, at different Quarter Sessions, to those statutes 
under which Magistrates are authorised to grant 
Certificates to persons wishing to act as Dissenting 
Ministers, (and which interpretations, as far as they 
have hitherto undergone Judicial Decision, appear to 
be more correct constructions of these Laws, than those 
which heretofore prevailed in practice,) place the pep- 
eons, who wish to obtain Certificates as Dissenting 
Ministers, in a situation so different from that in which 
the previous practice had placed them, as to require 
Parliamentary Interference and Relief, to the extent, 
at least, of rendering legal the former practice ; and I 
shall, therefore, be willing, either to bring forward, or 
to support, an application to parliament for the purpose 
of affording such Relief. 

Understanding, however, that a case is now pending 
in Judgment, before the King's Bench, upon the con- 
struction of some part of these Acts, it appears to me, 
that it will be desirable to postpone any direct applica- 
tion to the Legislature till that Decision shall explain 
the exact state of the law upon the point in dispute in 
that case. By postponing the application to Parlia- 
ment till after the decision in that case, no such delay 
will be incurred as will prevent the application to 
Parliament in this Session, since the decision will, I 
believe, be pronounced upon it in the ensuing Term. 

The precise mode of giving this relief, whether by 
the repeal of any existing Laws or by making the Act 
of the Magistrate purely ministerial, in administering 
the Oaths, and granting the Certificates, to such per- 
sons as may apply, is a matter which I wish to be un- 
derstood as reserved for future consideration; but I 



APPENDIX. 3i3 

thmk it material to state, distinctly, that I understand 
the desire of the persons whom you represent to be this 
- — that the Exemptions, to be conferred by such Cer- 
tificates, from the Penalties to which such persons 
might otherwise be exposed for preaching, &c. should 
be universal to all who so qualify themselves ; while 
the exemption from civil and military burdens or duties 
should be confined to those only who are Ministers of 
congregations, and who make the ministry so complete- 
ly their profession, as to carry on no other business, ex- 
cepting that of a schoolmaster. 

As to the question respecting the liabilaty of Dis- 
senting Chapels to the Poor Rates, I am convinced 
that the Dissenters must consider it as a subject of very 
inferior importance, both in effect and in principle. — 
On principle, I conceive, all that could be required 
would be. that the Chapels of Dissenters should be put 
precisely on the same footing as Chapels belonging to 
the Establishment ; if they stand on any other footing, 
in point of legal liability at the present moment, (which, 
however, I do not understand to be the case,) I should 
be very ready to propose that the law in that respect 
should be altered. 

If you wish for any further communication with me 
upon this subject, I shall be happy to appoint a time for 
seeing you. 

I have the honour to be Sir, 

Your most obedient humble Servant, 

(Signed) SP. PERCEVAL. 

To Mr. Butterworih, Fleet-street. 



The JUDGMENT of the Court of King's Bench, on the 
Motion for a Mandamus, in the Case of the King, on the 
Prosecution of Thomas Standfast Brittan, versus The 
Justices of Gloucestershire, 6tk May, 1812, taken from 
the short-hand notes of Mr> Gurney. 

Lord Ellenborough, 

It occurs to me, Mr. Topping, that we not only 
have no occasion, but that we cannot decide upon that 



84.4 APPENDIX* 

question, upon this application ; this is an application 
for a Mandamus, in which the man swears himself to be 
one of the description of persons who are entitled to take 
these oaths, that he is a person pretending to Holy Or- 
ders. The refusal to admit him so to do, is upon the 
ground that he must be not only a person pretending to 
Holy Orders, but (upon some supposition that the QOurt 
have so decided) that he must also be a preacher or 
teacher of a congregation ; now if the Court is not pre- 
/pared to understand in that copulative sense the words 
of the Statute descriptive of the several different classes, 
all of whom are substantively entitled, if they come fair 
ly and fully within the meaning of the Legislature, on a 
comparison of the terms applicable to each class, to take 
the oaths, it is unnecessary for us to consider the ques- 
tion further, inasmuch as 4he Magistrates have not de- 
nied that he bore that character, but have refused him 
only because they thought he must have a conjunct 
character of another sort, in order to entitle him as a 
person pretending to Holy Orders ; but the meaning of 
the words 'pretending to Holy Orders, 5 whether it can 
in reason or in ^ense be understood to mean any thing 
beyond pretending to have Holy Orders, will be open 
to the Magistrates upon a Return to this Mandamus, if 
they think fit so to Return, to state and to explain ; 
and in so thinking it proper that a Mandamus should ga 
for the purpose of their making such Return, if they 
shall choose so to do, the Court is not only conducted 
to that conclusion by what has been done by their pre- 
decessors upon former occasions, but by a regard to the 
justice of the remedies the parties may have, if they 
shall be abridged of their rights ; because, on a Return 
to the Mandamus, if they shall Return that he is not a 
person pretending to Holy Orders, and that that is sy- 
nonymously, according to the construction in Cater's 
Case,* pretending to possess Holy Orders, if they shall 
return that in point of fact he is not a person pretending 
to have Holy Orders, and that he has no Orders of anjf 
description whatever, then it will be open to the party 
either, to move to quash that Return, if they shall think it 

*Sfcin»er'sRep.8Q* 



AfrENDIX. 545 

insufficient, or to bring an action upon it, if they shall 
think it false in fact ; and it does seem to the Court, 
on the authority of precedents of what their predecessors 
have done respecting other clauses of this Act, that it 
may be expedient with a view to justice, and to the ul- 
terior remedy of the party, that that should be done in 
this case, because they may, in that case, put it upon the 
record, by bringing an action for a false Return, and 
then the construction of this Statute may go by appeal 
to every Court in Westminster Hall. 

I do not mean to trouble you further* Mr. Topping, 
for the Court mean to make the Rule absolute. But I 
will just state what has been done by the Court upon 
this Statute. In a case in 6 Mod. 310, which was a 
motion made by Mr. King, then at the bar, but after- 
wards Lord King, for a Mindamus to the Justices of 
Warwickshire to admit one Peat to take the Oaths, in 
order to be qualified to teach a Dissenting Congregation; 
the words of Lord Chief Justice Holt were these. " The 
party ought to suggest whatever is necessary to entitle 
him " to be admitted, and if that be not done, or if it be 
done, and the fact be false, that will be good matter to 
return ;'" and the same in etfect was s aid by Lord Mans* 
field in the Case of the King v. the J us tic rby- 

shire, which h^s been refered to as reported in Sir Wil- 
liam Blackstriae ; but it is full as well reported in 4 
Burrow, 1991, and where what Lord MariFne'd said at 
the close of the Case is reported, which it is not in 
Blackstone. His Lordship says, " no inconvenience 
can attend the Registering this Meeting-Kouse. The 
Registry and Certificate do not prove that they are 
within the Act, they will still be obliged to show that 
they are within the requisite qualifications if called upon, 
notwithstanding the Register and Certificate ; and if 
in fact they are not within the qualifications, the Justi- 
ces may return that they are not, if they think proper 
to do so.'** 

In this case, let it be distinctly understood, the par- 
ties apply under one specific description in the Tolera- 
tion Act, as persons pretending to Holy Orders. The 
Justices enter into no consideration of the fact at the 
Sessions, whether they maintain that pretence accord 



846 APPENDIX* 

ing to the fair construction of the Act, but admitting 
them to be persons pretending to Holy Orders, they ob- 
ject upon the ground alleged, that no person pretending 
to Holy Orders was entitled to take the Oaths, and to 
make and subscribe the Declaration and so on, unless 
he was also at the same time a preacher or teacher of a 
congregation of Protestant Dissenters. That they 
state as being the determination which has been lately 
made in this Court, but in which they are certainly 
mistaken ; and they assign no other reason. His alle* 
gation, at the time of his Application, does not appear 
to have been traversed by them. We give them then 
the opportunity of traversing it, we give them the op- 
portunity of returning, if they shall think fit bo to do, 
that he is not such a person j so as to raise the question 
either upon the return, when the question upon the suf- 
ficiency of the return may be argued before the Court, 
or afterwards. Supposing the return should be sustain- 
ed, and the Mandamus be rendered ineffectual in res- 
pect of the validity of the return, they may bring an 
action for a false return, by which the truth of the re* 
turn may be brought in question. 

Upon these grounds therefore, without pronouncing 
at present (because it is premature to pronounce) wheth* 
er a person pretending to Holy Orders, must not be un- 
derstood in all sense and meaning, to be a person pre- 
tending to the actual possession, and having the Holy 
Orders, respecting which, I should rather think that the 
persons pretending to Holy Orders, according to the 
best inquisition into the subject I have been able to 
make, were not entitled, generally to preach under any 
allowance ; and when speaking on this subject, I will 
just mention that we have been referred to what passed 
in the times of the troubles ; now, in the 5 2d Statute, 
in ScobelPs Acts, it is said, that of the persons who 
expect Holy Orders, who are candidates for Holy Or- 
ders, none may preach but Ordained Ministers, except 
such as intending the Ministry, shall for trial of their 
gifts, be allowed by such as shall be appointed by both 
Houses of Parlaiment, which clearly does not mean a 
general and indefinite allowance to preach in respect of 
a self-designation to that profession, but they are to be 



APPENDIX. . S47 

sanctioned by the allowance of persons constituted by 
authority, to give that allowance by both Houses of 
Parliament. —In the further consideration of this subject^ 
it may be well worth the while of those, who argue that 
a pretence to Holy Orders implies the actual possession 
of Holy Orders, to look into those ordinances to see 
what was expected of persons in order to their being al- 
lowed to preach the Word of God. In page 80 of Bco- 
bell's Acts, it is presupposed that the Minister of Christ, 
is in some measure gifted for so weighty a service, by 
his skill in the original languages, and in such arts and 
sciences as are hand^maids unto Divinity ; and by his 
knowledge in the whole body of theology : in times in 
which enthusiasm is supposed to have obtained as great 
a height, and literature to have been at its lowest ebb, 
it appeared to be fitting to those who managed the go- 
vernment in that perturbed state, that there should be 
these qualities in the persons pretending to the Minis- 
try. — I throw this out for further consideration, when 
this matter may hereafter come under the consideration 
of the Court. At present we are of opinion this Man* 
damus cannot be resisted, because the right in which 
the person applies, has not been denied or drawn in 
question, it may questioned upon the return, and it is 
fit the Mandamus should go, in order that the Magis- 
trates may have an opportunity of making that return, 
if they shall think fit. 

Rule Absolute. 



London, May 7th, 1812, 

To the Superintendent of the 

Circuit, 
Dear Sir, 

The great question relative to the Act of Toleration,, 
having occasioned the most anxious solicitude through- 
out our societies, we embrace the earliest opportunity 
of informing you, that the case of the King v. the Justi- 
ces of Gloucestershire, which was expected to settle the 
point, was yesterday argued in the Court of King's 
Bench ; but we are sorry to say, that the decision still 



S48 APPENDIX. 

leaves us in a state of uncertainty as to the construe - 
tion of the Act. The Court granted the Mandamus 
prayed for, but it was suggested that the Justices might 
make such a return as would bring the affair again be- 
fore the Court, and probably that will be the case, 
which of course will leave our people in a state of pain- 
ful anxiety, and expose them to inconvenience for a 
considerable period. 

Under these circumstances, and the uncertainty as to 
the ultimate interpretation of the Law, which so raa^ 
terially affects our Preachers and Societies, and a great 
portion of the population of the kingdom, the Commit* 
tee feel it necessary to make an immediate application 
to the Legislature for relief; and they will loose no 
time in taking measures accordingly. 

The Committee think they are warranted in enter* 
taining sanguine hopes that their application to Par- 
liament will be attended with success ; and as the re* 
cent decision may occasion mveh uneasiness in the 
country, the Committee consider it proper to subjoin 
the copy of a letter which they have sometime since 
received from the Right Honourable the Chancellor of 
the Exchequer, Mr. Perceval, in answer to a former ap- 
plication made to him on this subject. 

The explicit declaration of His Majesty's Govern* 
ment, either to bring forward or to support an applica- 
tion to Parliament, for affording relief, we have no 
doubt will prove highly satisfactory to the members 
of our Society ; and while we rely upon this support, 
we do not for a moment doubt of the cordial co-opera- 
tion of those eminent Statesmen who have given their 
assistance in the cause of religious liberty upon former 
occasions. 

We have thus thought it necessary to send these par* 
ticulars for your information, which will afford you and 
our people matter of consolation, as they furnish strong 
reason to expect that our religious rights will be so re- 
cognized and defined, as not to admit of any future dif* 
ference of opinion as to their extent. 

We cannot conclude without expressing our earnest 
hope, that your constant prayers will be offered to him 
from whom all good counsels and just work* do proceed. 



APPENDIX. 349 

that in this great concern, which so deeply affects the 
rights of conscience and religious liberty, we may be 
assisted by his Holy Spirit, to act consistently with the 
principles of truth and righteousness. 
We are, dear Sir, 

Your affectionate Friends and Servants, 
(Signed, by order of the committee) 

JOHN BARBER, Chairman. 
JOS. BUTTERWORTH, Secretary. 
N. B. The Superintendent is requested to read this 
Letter to the Societies. 



(COPY.) 

Downingostreet, May 9, 1812. 
Sir, 

Mr. Perceval having received your Letter* of yes- 
terday's date, informing him of the intention of the 
General Committee of the late Rev. Mr. Wesley's So- 
cieties, to submit to his consideration the outlines of 
a Bill which appears to them to be made necessary 
by the late decision in the Court of King's Bench, re- 
specting the construction of the Toleration Act, I have 
his directions to express his readiness to receive any 
communication which the Society may be desirous of 
making to him. 

I have the honour to be, Sir, 

Your most obedient humble Servant, 
(Signed) A. ROSENHAGEN. 

To Mr. Butterworth, FleeUstreet, 



(COPY.) 

Frederick's Place, Old Jewry, May 9, 1812. 
Sir, 

Agreeably to the intimation of Mr. Butterwerth's 
note of yesterday, I have the konour, by direction of 

* This letter is wanting ; its import however may be un- 
derstood by the answer. 



350 APPENDIX. 

the Committee of the Societies, founded by the late 
Rev. Mr. Wesley, to transmit you the sketch of a Bill, 
ivhich they presume to hope, will not be found more 
extensive in its operations than his Majesty's Govern- 
ment may deem necessary, but which the Committee 
consider essential for the peaceable enjoyment of those 
religious privileges which they have exercised for more 
than seventy years. 

In framing this Bill, the Committee have had in view 
the Toleration of their Societies, (amongst which are 
to be found many who frequent and are attached to the 
worship of the Established Church, as well as others 
who are Dissenters,) and to protect those Religioue 
Meetings which they have exercised from their founda- 
tion without interruption. But from the legal uncer- 
tainty in which they are now involved, as to the mean- 
ing of the Toleration Act, they have found that any 
plan for the amendment of that Act would be attended 
with almost insurmountable difficulties, and to leave the 
Conventicle Act, (which is so oppressive in its opera- 
tions and so hostile to Religious Toleration,) unrepeal- 
ed, would be abandoning their Societies and other re- 
ligious denominations to a constant state of painful 
anxiety. 

Under all circumstances, therefore, the Committee 
are convinced that a Bill for repealing the Conventi- 
cle, and, in part, the Five Mile Act, and (instead of at- 
tempting to amend the Act of Toleration) to regulate 
the Toleration in future, will not only be the method 
best calculated to attain the object they have in view, 
but to afford in return that security for loyal conduct 
which the Government has a right to expect ; and they 
trust when the Bill is maturely considered, that it enfor- 
ces every security which those who are the objects of 
it have power to give, or which Government can think 
necessary to require. 

The scope of the Bill is to remove all doubt as to 
the legality of his Majesty's Protestant Subjects wor- 
shipping God agreeably to the dictates of their con- 
sciences, and which has been the practice for the last 
century. Of this right there seems to be no doubt. — 
The Bill asks no immunities for any except for regu- 



APPENDIX, &h% 

lar Ministers who are altogether devoted to their office, 
and who indeed have, in practice, been exempted from 
Civil and Military service. And as it adopts no 
phraseology which is exclusively applicable to any one 
sect of religion, it cannot but be a measure acceptable 
to all. And the Committee cannot but express the sin- 
cere satisfaction they enjoy in feeling that while the 
Bill protects the various Sects of Protestants (whether 
Dissenting altogether from, or partially conforming to 
the Established Church,) in the exercise of their re- 
ligious worship, it will materially strengthen the Gov- 
ernment both in Church and State. 

The Committee are anxious to obtain the support of 
his Majesty's Government for a measure which involves 
the dearest privileges of a great and loyal part of the 
population, and the success of which must materially 
defend upon their countenance, and they earnestly 
ho??e that you, Sir, will have the goodness to undertake 
the labour of directing this important measure through 
the House of Commons, and they beg to add, that from 
the anxiety excited by the uncertainty of the Jaw upon 
the subject, the Committee trust you will feel with 
them the necessity of the earliest application for relief. 

Although upon very mature consideration, the Com- 
mittee consider the leading features of the bill as in- 
dispensable, there may be points of minor importance, 
which may require modification. Indeed should you 
think the whole or any of its various parts require ex- 
planation, a Deputation from the Committee will be 
happy to have the honour of waiting upon you at any 
time you may appoint- 

I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Your most obedient, 

And very humble Servant, 
(Signed) 

THOMAS ALLEN, Solicitor. 

To the Rt. Hon. Spencer Perceval, &c. Sec, 

The Sketch of a Bill was sent to the Right Honour- 
able Mr. Perceval with this Letter, but his much 1?« 
mented death on the 11th instant, closed the corres* 
pondence. 



352 APPENDIX. 

AT A MEETING 0# 

THE GENERAL COMMITTEE 

OF THE SOCIETIES 

OF THE LATE 

REV. JOHN WESLEY, 

Convened for the purpose of taking into consideration a 
Bill) brought into the House of Lords by the Right 
Honourable Lord Viscount Sidmouth, entitled., " An 
Act to explain and render more effectual certain Acts of 
the first year of the reign of King William and Queen 
Mary, and of the nineteenth Year of the reign of His 
present Majesty, so far as the same relate to Protestant 
Dissenting Ministers ;" Held at the New Chapel, City 
Road, London, the 1 4th of May, 1811 : 

IT WAS RESOLVED, 

I. That the said Bill, if carried into a Law, will be 
a great infringement of the laws of religious Tolera- 
tion, and will be subversive of the most valuable rights 
and privileges which we as a religious society enjoy. 

II. That the said Act will in future curtail the privi- 
leges and exemptions of our regular preachers, who are 
wholly devoted to the functions of their office, and to 
which they are legally entitled under the Letter and 
Spirit of the Act of Toleration. 

III. That the said Act will render it very difficult, 
if not impracticable, to obtain Certificates for the great 
body of local preachers and exhorters, and who are not 
only an useful part of our society, but whose aid is 
essentially necessary in the very numerous Chapels and 
Mecting-Bouses in which our congregations assemble. 

IV. That with great grief of heart we hnve observed 
of late, a growing disposition in different parts of the 



APPENDIX. $5$ 

country, to disturb our Meetings, even those which are 
held only for prayer to Almighty God, and to iiiforc'e 
the penalties of the Conventicle Act upon those who 
officiate in them ; the great inconvenience and heavy 
expenses of which we have already felt. If this system 
^f persecution should be persevered in, the subordinate 
Teachers of our body, to the amount of many thousands 
of persons in the United Kingdom, will be driven to ap- 
ply for Certificates to protect them from the Penalties 
of the Conventicle Act, which indeed they can obtain 
under the existing Laws without obstruction ; but if the 
present Bill should be passed into a Law, it will be ut- 
terly impossible to consider such persons as Dissenting 
Ministers, and to certify them under the said Act : 
therefore, either an end will be put to the functions of 
a most valuable and useful part of our Community, or 
they will be exposed to all the Penalties of the Conven- 
ticle Act ; the consequence of which will be, that as the 
people cannot, and ought not to refrain from acts of so- 
cial worship, and meetings for religious instruction, the 
penalties cannot be paid, and the prisons will be peopled 
with some of the most peaceable and pious characters in 
the country. 

V. That a great number of the persons mentioned in 
the last Resolution, (as well as a large proportion of o ir 
Societies) considering themselves as members of the 
Established Church, to which they are conscientiously 
attaehed, will feel it quite incompatible with their sen- 
timents to apply for Certificates under the terms of the 
said act, which requires them to be certified, and to de- 
clare themselves as dissenting ministers. 

VI. That the officers alluded to in the Fourth Resolu- 
tion, are an essential part of the Economy of our Socie- 
ties, which has for its object, the Instruction of the Ig- 
norant, and the Relief of the Miserable, rather than the 
creation or extension of a distinct Sect of Religion ; 
and without whose aid the various Chapels of our Soci- 
eties in the United Kingdom, which have cost an im- 
mense sum of money in their erection* cannot be sup- 
ported. 

VII. That our Chapels have been built, and large 

€t g 2 



S54 AFPEKDIX* 

sums of money, due upon the same, for which the res- 
pective Trustees are now responsible, have been lent 
and advanced under the most perfect confidence that 
our System, so necessary for their support, would remain 
undisturbed; and that those Rights of Conscience, which 
our most Gracious Sovereign on his Accession to the 
throne declared should be maintained inviolable, would, 
in this happy and enlightened country, ever be held sa- 
ered, and preserved un fringed. 

VIII. That it does not appear to us, that the present 
toleration Laws are either so ineffectual, or the inter- 
pretation of them so uncertain, as to render any Bill ne- 
cessary to explain them, much less to curtail the benefits 
intended to be conveyed by them ; but on the other 
hand, we are satisfied, that if the present Bill should 
pass, the whole Law of Religious Toleration will be- 
come more obscure, and its meaning more uncertain , 
and thus a fruitful source of litigation and oppression 
will be opened. 

IX. That the Returns of the Archbishops and Bish- 
ops, of the number of Places for Divine Worship, &c. in 
their respective Dioceses, upon which the present 
measure appears to be founded, are far from furnishing 
evidence of the necessity of restricting the operations of 
religious Societies; but, on the contrary, they contain 
the most decisive proofs (from the inadequacy of the 
Parish Churches to contain the Inhabitants of the King- 
dom) that the increasing Population calls for all the 
means of religious Instruction, which w T ell-disposed per- 
sons, of all Denominations of Christians, have in their 
power to afford. 

X. That from the manifest effect which the diffusion 
of religion has had for the last fifty years, in raising the 
standard of public morals, and in promoting loyalty in 
the middle ranks, as well as subordination and industry 
in the lower orders of Society, which so powerfully ope- 
rate upon the national prosperity and public spirit, we 
dread the adoption of any measure which can in the 
least weaken these great sinews of the nation, or restrain 
the patriotic efforts of any of the religious Communities 
#f the Country* 



appendix, 355 

XI. That as we deprecate the consequences of the 
Bill as it now stands, so we cannot see that any modifi- 
cation of it can meet the views of its Right Honourable 
and Noble Proposer, (whose character we highly re- 
spect) without essentially deteriorating the indefeasible 
rights and privileges of those who are the objects of 
the Toleration Laws. 

XII. That inasmuch as this Act will most deeply af- 
fect our Societies whose moral character and loyalty 
are unimpeachable, we feel it our duty to declare, that 
we do not believe there exists among them any prac- 
tice or disposition, to warrant a legislative measure, ■ 
which would abridge our rights and privileges. 

XIII. That the introduction of the present measure 
is as unseasonable, as it is needless and oppressive. — 
At any time religious rights form a most delicate sub- 
ject for legislative interference, but at such a time as 
this, when not only unanimity, but affection for the 
Government and Laws of our Country are more than 
ever essential, for the patient endurance of the pres- 
sure of the times, and the repulsion of the bitterest en- 
emy with which this country ever had to contend, the 
discussion of these rights is most feelingly to be depre- 
cated. Much irritation,- — even worse than political irri- 
tation, would be produced, and the ardent affection of 
many a conscientious and loyal subject would be invo- 
luntarily diminished. We are impressed with these 
sentiments the more deeply, as not a shadow of a 
charge is brought against our very numerous body, and 
we can challenge the most rigid inquiry into the moral 
and political character of our preachers and our people. 

XIV. That, abstaining from all observations on the 
abstract rights of conscience, but with the views and 
feelings thus expressed, we are most decidedly of opin- 
ion that the present measure is radically objectionable, 
and does not admit of any modification ; and we cannot 
but feel it our duty to oppose the bill in all its stages 
by every constitutional means. 

XV. That we reflect with high satisfaction on the 
liberal, enlightened, and religious declaration of our 
most Gracious Sovereign, on the commencement of his 



S&$ APPENDIX. 

reign. u Born ," said his Majesty, in his first speeds 
from the throne, " and educated in this country, 1 glo- 
" ry in the name of Briton, and the peculiar happiness 
"of my- life will ever consist in promoting the welfare 
" of a people, whose loyalty and warm affection to rae 
" I consider as the greatest and most permanent secu- 
" rity of my throne ; and 1 doubt not, but their steadi- 
" ness in those principles will equal the firmness of my 
" invariable resolution to adhere to, and strengthen 
" this excellent constitution in church and state ; and 
" to maintain the toleration inviolable. The civil and 
" religious rights of my loving subjects are equally dear 
" to me with the most valuable prerogatives of my mown ; 
" and as the surest foundation of the whole,' and the 
* 4 best means to draw down the Divine favour on my 
<c reign, it is my fixed purpose , to countenance and encour- 
64 age the practice of true religion and virtue" This de- 
claration of our beloved Sovereign has been religiously 
fulfilled during a long and beniiicent reign, and has 
been humbly met by our societies with the affection it 
was calculated to inspire. We have built with confi- 
dence upon this gracious declaration, and our confi- 
dence has not been misplaced. His Majesty has been 
a shield to the religious of all persuasions, and he has 
respected the rights of conscience in all. And we 
cannot doubt that His Royal Highness the Prince Re- 
gent, with those just sentiments of truth and sincerity, 
which he has graciously declared shall be the guide of 
his character and every action of his life, will feel it his 
happiness to recognize the high natural rights of con- 
science ; and should it please the wise disposer of all 
events to restore his afflicted Father to the personal 
exercise of his Royal functions, His Royal Highness 
will feel it amongst the many blessings of his benevo- 
lent and liberal Administration that he has, agreeably 
to the ardent wishes of a great portion of His Majesty's 
loyal subjects, preserved those sacred Rights entire, 
and returned to his beloved Father the Toleration invi* 
olatc* We have too much confidence in the wisdom 
and justice of Parliament, to imagine that a measure 
will be adopted, so obnoxious to such a large proppr- 



APPENDIX. SB7 

lion of the nation, as our societies and congregations 
constitute ; but if unhappily we should be disappointed, 
and the dernier resort, we should be driven to submit 
our case to his Royal Highness, we have already the 
gratification of his royal assurance, that he will " be 
" ready to listen to the complaints of those who may 
u think themselves aggrieved, and regulate his con- 
" duct upon the established principles of that ancient 
" and excellent constitution, under which the people of 
" this country have hitherto enjoyed a state of unrival* 
w led prosperity and happiness." 

XVI. That a Sub-Committee be appointed to carry 
these resolutions into eflfect. 

XVII. That these Resolutions be printed, and with 
Circular letters on the subject, be immediately trans- 
mitted to our societies throughout (he United Kingdom, 
if the Sub-Committee judge it to be necessary. 

XVIII. That before any active measures be taken, 
a Deputation do wait upon the Right Honourable 
Lord Viscount Sidmouth with a copy of these Resolu- 
tions, and earnestly entreat his Lordship to withdraw 
his Bill. 

Signed, 

By order of the Committee, 

JOSEPH BUTTERWORTH, 

Secretary* 



Fleet-street, 25th May, 1812. 
Sir, 

The time appears to be now arrived, when all who 
are interested in Religious Toleration, should consider 
what line of conduct ought to be adopted, in order to 
keep it inviolate. It is obvious that from the obscuri- 
ty and uncertainty of the law relative to that subject 
on the one hand, and the disposition which has ^een re- 
cently manifested on the other, to revive the obsolete 
penal Laws of Religious Intolerance, that some legisla- 
tive measure is necessary ; and the question is to what 
that measure ought to extend ? By the enclosed paper, 



358 Appendix. 

which is submitted to your consideration, you will per- 
ceive that in proportion as the Act of Toleration is ob- 
scure, or inefficient, will be the operation of the Five 
Mile and Conventicle Acts; and therefore as these 
Acts are so hostile to the Religious Privileges enjoyed 
in this Country for more than a Century, it is of the 
highest importance that by the proposed measure, re* 
ligious persons should with certainty be relieved from 
their effects and be enabled to worship God, and propa- 
gate Divine Truth, without fear of Penalties. It is 
apprehended that this can only be done either by 
amending the Act of Toleration, or repealing the Acts 
to which I have alluded. As to the first mode, there 
are serious objections against it. Perhaps it may be 
sufficient to say, that in considering the meaning of any 
Act passed for amending the Act of Toleration, it 
would be necessary to consider the meaning of the Act 
of Toleration itself : now if the meaning of the Act of 
Toleration, which for near a Century was considered 
plain, and perfectly intelligible, be at present uncer- 
tain, the probability is, that any new Statute to ex- 
plain that Act, would scarcely be free from doubt and 
uncertainty. It may be therefore concluded, that the 
first will not be the most eligible mode of proceeding, 
but that the second will be the most clear and unequiv- 
ocal ; and therefore a Bill was submitted to the late 
Mr. Perceval for repealing the Conventicle and in 
part the Five Mile Acts under proper regulations. In- 
deed any thing short of this, would not produce securi- 
ty for the exercise of our Religious Rights, and it would 
have all the inconvenience of a new and imperfect 
measure. For it would be much better to live under 
all the inconveniencies of an old Law considered ob- 
solete, although oppressive, which could never be en- 
forced without odium, than accept an imperfect new 
Law, which of course would be put into execution with 
all the sanction of a new Statute, considered necessary 
and applicable to the present times. 

Under these impressions, deeply weighed by our de* 
nomination, and submitted to your most grave consid- 
eration, we object to any Bill for the amendment of 



APPENDIX, 359 

the Act of Toleration : which Act, by recent proceed- 
ings, appears to be so inadequate for the protection of 
our Religious Privileges ; nor can we be satisfied with 
any measure which has not the clear and undoubted ef- 
fect of legalizing those Religious Rights and Privileges 
which have been enjoyed by the various denominations 
of Christians of this Country for the last Century, both 
with regard to persons who teach, as well as those who 
hear ; and this we are perfectly satisfied cannot be ef- 
fected without the repeal of the Conventicle, and in 
part the Five Mile Act. 

We trust that on mature consideration, you will be 
of the same opinion, and will think it necessary to 
seek the remedy for the evils we complain of, to the ex- 
tent above mentioned ; not only as needful for the wel- 
fare ef the Religious Body to which you belong, but as 
intimately affecting various other Christian Denomi- 
nations, and in general the diffusion of Christianity in 
this Country. 

I would only add, that if any measure should be 
adopted that should subject all persons, under pains 
and penalties, to take out a legal qualification before 
they should be allowed to exercise their preaching or 
teaching talents, it would not only interfere with, and 
indeed destroy much of the spiritual comfort now en- 
joyed by Religious Society ; but what is perhaps infi- 
nitely worse in its consequences, be a grand means of 
preventing the improvement of the gifts and grace of 
Young Men, preparatory to any sort of designation to 
the sacred office of the Ministry ; and it is the indis- 
pensable duty of the present generation to provide for 
posterity, and to consider how the very numerous Con- 
gregations will hereafter be supplied with a succession 
of Ministers. It is well known that many of the bright- 
est characters which have adorned the Ministry, among 
the different denominations of Christians, have been 
nurtured in a more limited sphere before they have 
been called out, or have been qualified, to fill the sa- 
cred offices of public Pastors or Teachers, for which 
they have afterwards been selected from the various 
occupations of civil life. They would have entirely 
shrunk from public duty, and have been lost to the 



360 APPENDIX, 

Church of God, as public characters, through timidity 
and a variety of other circumstances, if, bei'ore any sort 
of exercise or trial of their gifte, they had been compel- 
led to take out a legal qualification. 

While the Penal Acts remained obsolete, they were 
constantly violated by all denominations with impuni- 
ty ; but as a spirit is now manifested to revive and call 
them into action, it becomes the obvious duty of all de- 
nominations of Christians, to unite their efforts, in or- 
der that Statutes so generally disapproved, may be re- 
pealed. 

lam, 

With much respect, 
Sir, 
Your faithful obedient Servant, 
JOS, BUTTERWORTH. 

P. S. The importance of guarding the means of ob- 
taining a succession of Ministers, will be felt on con- 
si , nig the number of Congregations in the larger 
Parishes of England and Wales, given in the following 
official returns, 



APPENDIX. 



$61 



Returns of the Archbishops and Bishops of the Number of 
Churches and Chapels of the Church of England, in every 
Parish of 1000 persons and upwards ; also of the number of 
other Places of Worship not of the Establishment. 
Ordered to be printed by the House of Lords , April 5, 1811. 





Churches & 


Chapels and Meeting-, 
houses not of the Estab- 




Chapels of 


lishment, besides many 


DIOCESE. 


the Estab- 


private houses used for 




lishment. 


Religious Worship not 
enumerated. 


1. Bath and Wells 


78 


103 


2. Bangor - - - 


52 


99 


3. Bristol - - - 


59 


71 


4. Canterbury - - 


84 


113 


5 Carlisle - - - 


49 


39 


6. Chester - - - 


352 


439 


7* Chichester - - 


47 


58 


8. Durham - - - 


116 


175 


9. Ely - - - - 


22 


32 


10. Exeter- - - - 


180 


245 


11. Gloucester - - 


46 


76 


12. Hereford- - - 


51 


42 


13. LLandaff - - - 


21 


45 


14. Lincoln - - - 


165 


269 


1 5 . Litchjkld& Coventry 


190 


288 


16. London - - - 


187 


265 


17. Norwich - - - 


78 


114 


18. Oa/wrf - - - 


50 


39 


19. Peterborough - 


20 


36 


20. Rochester - - 


36 


44 


21. Salisbury - - - 


135 


142 


22. S£. ^&zp& - - 


49 


95 


23. Winchester - - 


193 


164 


24. Worcester - - 


66 


60 


25. For& - - - - 


221 

Total 2547 


404 


Total 3457 Chapels 




Churches & 


& meeting-houses not of 




Chapels of 


the Church of England 




the church of 


besides many private 




England. 


houses used for religious 




{•worship not enumerated 



N. B The smaller parishes not amounting to 1000 inhabi- 
tants, were not returned. 

uh 



S62 APPENDIX, 

London, July 31, 1812. 

To tlie Superintendent of the 

Circuit. 
Dear Sir, 

In May last the General Committee of Privileges ad- 
dressed a circular Letter to the Superintendents of Cir- 
cuits, with a view to allay the apprehensions of the 
people, under the circumstances in which they were 
then placed'from the new construction of the Toleration 
Act ; and to assure them, that no time would be lost in 
taking such measures as were likely to promote the 
success of an application to the Legislature for relief; 
and they, at the same time, enclosed the copy of a Let- 
ter from the late Mr. Perceval (published with his per- 
mission) in which he promised to bring forward or to 
support such an application to Parliament : — but the 
melancholy death of that lamented statesman put an end 
for sometime to the correspondence with Government 
upon the subject. 

The Committee, being of opinion that a measure of 
this nature and magnitude, ought to originate with his 
Majesty's government, (whoever might be in office for 
the time being) solicited no individual member of the 
legislature on the subject, but waited till an administra- 
tion was appointed ; when this was done, the Commit- 
tee lost no time in addressing the Right Honourable the 
Earl of Liverpool : and after the necessary communica- 
tions, a Bill was introduced into Parliament under his 
Lordship's auspices, which, to our inexpressible satisfac- 
tion has now passed into a law. 

In order to understand the bearings and effect of this 
important and salutary Act of Parliament, and before we 
make any general remarks, it may be necessary to ad- 
vert to the situation in which our Societies were placed, 
and to some of the proceedings of the Committee for the 
purpose of accomplishing the object they had in view. 

By the Conventicle Act (22 Charles II. c. 1.) it 
was enacted, that if any person of sixteen years of age 
and upwards, should be present at any conventicle or 
meeting for religion, other than according to the Liturgy 
and practice of the Church of England, at which should 



APPENDIX. 363 

be present above fire persons besides those of the same 
household, he should pay a fine of five shillings for the 
first offence* and ten shillings for every subsequent offence ; 
which penalties might in case of the poverty of an offen- 
der, be levied on the goods and chattels of any person 
present. Every person who should teach or preach at 
such conventicle or meeting, should forfeit twenty pounds 
for the first offence ; and forty pounds for every subsequent 
offence. Every person who should suffer any such con- 
venticle or meeting in his house or premises, should 
forfeit twenty pounds, which, in case of his poverty, might 
be levied upon the goods of any person present. The 
justices and the military were empowered to enter con- 
venticles, and disperse religious meetings. And the 
Act declares the principle (most severe and intolerant) 
upon which it is to be interpreted, namely :— " That it 
" shall be construed most largely and beneficially for the 
" suppressing of conventicles and for the justification and 
" encouragement of all persons to be employed in the cxecu- 
** tion thereof;" and that no record, warrant, or mittimus 
to be made by virtue of that Act, or any proceedings 
thereupon should be reversed, avoided, or any way im- 
peached, by reason of any default inform ? It was also 
declared, that the goods and chattels of the husband 
should be liable for the penalties incurred by the wife 
for attending a meeting for religious worship. 

As to the Five Mile Act (17 Charles II. c. 2.) it is 
thereby declared, that persons therein mentioned who 
should preach in any conventicle, should not come within 
five miles of any corporate town sending burgesses to Par* 
hiament, unless in passing upon the road, before such 
person shall have taken the oath therein mentioned at 
the Quarter Sessions, under a penalty ot forty pounds. 

Besides these two Acts of Parliament, there were se- 
veral other Acts which rendered nonconformity, or a 
deviation from the established religion of the country, 
unlawful, and highly penal. 

Thus stood the law relative to religious assemblies on* 
the accession of King William and Queen Mary, when 
or soon afterwards an Act of Parliament was passed for 
the relief of conscientious persons, suffering under or 
exposed to those intolerant and oppresive laws. By 



S6& APPENDIX. 

that Act (1 William and Mary, c. 18) usually called the 
Toleration Act, it was in substance declared, that 
with regard to private individuals, the former Acts should 
not extend to any person dissenting from the l,hurch of 
Englar d, who should at the Sessions take the Oaths, 
and subscribe the Declaration therein mentioned; and 
with regard to the ministers of religion, it was enacted 
that no person dissenting from the Church of England, 
in Holy Orders, or pretended Holy Orders, or pretend- 
ing to Holy Orders, nor any preacher or teacher of any 
congregation of disseising Protestants* who should at the 
Sessions make the Declaration and take the Oaths 
therein expressed, should be liable to the penalties of 
the Acts oi Parliament therein mentioned. Provided 
that such person should not at any time preach in any 
place with the doers locked, barred, or bolted. By this 
Act also, ajustice was empowered #t any time to require 
^ny person that went to any meeting for the exercise of 
religious worship, to subscribe the Declaration and take 
the Oaths therein mentioned ; and in case of refusal, 
to commit such person to prison. And the ministers of 
religion having taken the Oaths under the Act, were 
exempt from certain offices. It was declared, that no 
assembly for religious worship should be allowed till 
registered. And disturbers of religious worship coming 
into a registered place, were subjected to the penalty of 
twenty pounds. There are other provisions in the Act, 
which it may be unnecessary to mention ; nor need we 
particularize the Statute of the 10 of Queen Anne, c. 2. 
which extends the liberty of a person having taken 
the Oaths in one county, to preach in another county; 
nor the Statute of the 19th of George III, which re- 
gulates the Oaths and Declaration to be made, and ex- 
tends the exemptions. 

You will perceive, that it was only by the operation 
of these last Acts, that any Protestant not resorting to 
the established church, could be protected from »the an- 
tecedent penal Statutes; arid in proportion as the con- 
struction of these Tolerating Acts was limited, would 
be the destructive operation of those penal statutes.- — 
However, these Acts were considered by the various 
classes of Dissenters as the Palladium of their religious 



APPENDIX. 365 

Kberty ; and their efficacy for the protection of the va- 
rious classes of Dissenters was never questioned till ve- 
ry lately : and all who believed it their duty to preach 
the religious doctrines which they held, and were in- 
clined to protect themselves from the penalties of for- 
mer Acts, found little difficulty in getting the magis- 
trates at the Sessions to administer the Oaths, &c. as it 
was the generally received doctrine, that the magistrate 
acted merely ministerially — that they had no authority 
to inquire into the fitness or character of the applicant 
— and could not refuse the oaths, &c. to any man who 
represented himself in Holy Orders, or pretended Holy 
Orders, or as pretending to Holy Orders ; or as being a 
teacher or preacher of a congregation dissenting from 
the church of England ; and it was thought that there 
could scarcely be any dissenting teacher of religion 
who could not properly consider himself as falling 
within one of th') above descriptions. But latterly 
there has been a manifest alteration in the conduct of 
many magistrates, who, by narrowing the construction 
of the Toleration Act, have, on many alleged reasons, 
refused the oaths, &c. to several applicants. The new 
construction of the magistrates, has in some points of 
very great importance to the religious nonconformists, 
or occasional conformists, been sanctioned by the Court 
of King's Bench, which held, that a man to entitle him- 
self to take the oaths, &c. as required by the Act of 
Toleration, ought to show himself to be the acknowl- 
edged teacher or preacher of some particular congrega- 
tion, and that it was not enough for a man to state him- 
self a Protestant Dissenter, Avho preaches to several 
congregations of Protestant Dissenters. And with re- 
gard to persons pretending to Holy Orders, the decision 
of the Court left us in great uncertainty. 

In this state of perplexity, with regard to what was to 
be the construction of the Toleration Act, or rather of 
probability that it would afford but a very insufficient 
protection for the iVTethodists, even if they could denom- 
inate themselves Dissenters, the Committee were under 
the necessity of deeply considering the situation of the 
whole body. But when they were constantly receiv- 
ing intelligence from various parts of the country, of 
h h 2 



366 APPENDIX* 

the appearance of a new spirit of hostility to lla 
preachers, and of persecution against the harmless 
members of their Societies by enforcing the penalties 
of the most odious of obsolete laws upon the persons of 
the poor and defenceless, the Committee were exceed- 
ingly alarmed. For although they admired, and have 
experienced the benefit of the pure and impartial ad- 
ministration of justice, for which this country is so 
celebrated, yet they could not but consider the state of 
the Societies with apprehension, when they saw the 
press teeming with the grossest slander and falsehood 
against them ; their reiigious practices traduced and 
vilified ; and they themselves represented as " vermin 
fit only to be destroyed" Had such representations 
been casual, they would have been disregarded ; but 
when they were reiterated in certain popular Publica- 
tions month after month, and one quarter of a year after 
another— when the legislature were loudly and repeat- 
edly called upon to adopt measures of coercion against 
them, under the pretence that evangelical religion was 
inimical to public security and morals, and, as they 
saw, that in unison with this spirit, there seemed a 
growing disposition in many to enforce the penalties of 
the Conventicle Act upon those who either had not taken 
the oaths, or could not take them, or were not permitted 
to take them, &c. under the Toleration Act, the Com- 
mittee were under the greatest apprehension that the 
Societies were about to be deprived of that liberty to 
worship God which, either under the law, or by the 
courtesy of the country, they had enjoyed from their 
first rise nearly a century ago." And their fears were 
far from being allayed by the intelligence which 
thickened noon them, and they became furnished with 
amass of incontrovertible evidence from different parts 
of the country, which showed that even if the members 
of our Societies were to be considered as Dissenters, 
(which they have always disclaimed, it would be utter- 
ly impossible to get protection under the Toleration 
Acts for our Preachers and Teachers, especially for 
the Local Preachers, Class Leaders, &c. &c. 

These various Teachers were absolutely necessary 
for our economy, and without them we knew that ow 



APPENDIX. 387 

Societies and religious customs could not be carried on. 
They had, it is true, been tolerated by the general con- 
sent of the country rather than protected by the law ; 
but this had with almost equal efficacy secured the tree 
exercise of ther religious privileges. 

However, as a bitter spirit of intolerance was thus 
manifesting itself, the Committee thought it in vain to 
contend for protection under acts of Parliament which 
were of uncertain interpretations as to Dissenters, but 
of no value to those who considered themselves as belong- 
ing to the church of England, of which the great bulk of 
our Societies is composed, the Committee therefore de- 
termined to submit their case to the Government, and 
to Parliament ; and to solicit the adoption of such a 
measure as would secure to the Methodist Societies, and 
to other denominations of Christians suffering with them, 
the free exercise of their religious rights and privileges. 

It now became necessary for the Committee deeply 
and critically to consider the situation and principles 
of the Societies, in order to adapt a measure for their 
relief, which they might submit to his Majesty's minis- 
ters for their support in Parliament. In doing this, the 
Committee could not forget that the Societies are mere 
associations of Christians, united for general improve- 
ment and edification; and as the great majority of 
them were, from religious principle, attached to the 
Church of England, they could not conscientiously take 
the oath as Dissenters, to whom alone, the Act of Tole- 
ration applied. Therefore no amendment of that Act 
appeared likely to answer the purpose. But as Dis- 
senters of various denominations were also to be con- 
templated by the projected measure, it became necessa- 
ry to proceed upon some principle common to all. A 
principle which should recognize the rights of conscience , 
and at the same time afford that security for peaceable 
and loyal conduct, which the government of any state 
has a right to expect. It appeared also material to 
avoid all phraseology which would be exclusively ap- 
plicable to any one sect of religious people. 

As to the principle, the Committee, at an early stage 
of their deliberations, came to the resolution, that al- 
though gill well-regulated societies, and denominations 



368 APPENDIX, 

©f Christians will exercise their own rules for the ad- 
mission of public or private teachers among themselves, 
yet it is the unalienable right of every man to worship 
God agreeably to the dictates of his own conscience ; and 
that he has a right to hear and to teach those Chris- 
tian truths which he conscientiously believes, without 
any restraint or judicial interference from the civil ma- 
gistrate , provided he do not thereby disturb the peace 
of the community, and that on no account whatever 
would the Committee concede this fundamental prin- 
ciple. 

You will see at once, that it is only on this legiti- 
mate principle, that the various members of our Socie- 
ties, and indeed mankind in general, have any right to 
teach and instruct one another. It was on this leading 
principle, that we drew up and submitted a Bill to the 
late Mr. Perceval, qualified however with those provis- 
ions which made our religious worship known, and laid 
it open for the inspection of all ; and left our teachers 
subject to be called upon to take the usual obligations 
of allegiance, &c. which no good man could object to; 
and which by the Constitution, no subject can lawfully 
refuse ; but at the same time provision was made, that 
those Oaths were not to be taken as an antecedent quali- 
fication, but when required, they were to be taken with 
the least possible inconvenience, by going before one 
neighbouring magistrate, instead of the Quarter Ses- 
sions. A Bill founded on such principles, and with 
such views, the Committee trusted would at once se- 
cure the rights of conscience, and give every needful 
pledge to the State, for the fulfilment of our duties as 
good subjects. And although they did not attempt to 
amend the Act of Toleration, which had now become 
so uncertain in its construction, but only suggested a 
new Act, adapted to the present state of religious Soci- 
ety, yet they did not wish to remove the Old Tolera- 
tion Act, or lessen any of the benefits to be derived 
from it by any Class of Christians. 

On these principles, and with a view to establish 
them in practice, the correspondence with the Earl of 
Liverpool was conducted, and we have the great satis- 
faction to say, that from a just sense, of the high impor- 



APPENDIX. 369 

lance of those principles, which have been so powerful 
in the establishment and support of the Protestant 
Church, and the preservation of civil order in this coun- 
try ; and which are so congenial with e\ ery dictate of 
sound policy and pure religion, his Loraship Had his 
Majesty's Ministers prepared a bill* which having now 
passed into a law, will be found to carry into effect 
what the Committee deemed so essential, in any mea- 
sure designed to meet the situation of the Methodist So- 
cieties, and other denominations of Christians. To a 
short sketch of ihis Act, we have now to request your 
attention ; but for full information we must refer you to 
the Act itself. 

The new Act absolutely repeals the Five Mile and 
the Conventicle Acts, and another Act of a most offen- 
sive kind, which affected a highly respectable body, the 
Quakers. It then proceeds to relieve from the Penal- 
ties of the several Acts mentioned in the Toleration 
Act, or any amendment of the same, all Protestants 
who resort to a congregation allowed by the Ac's there 
referred to: and you will not fail to observe, that 
while it meets the situation of the Dissenters, how lib- 
erally it treats the condition of our Societies. It is 
not now necessary that a person should be obliged to 
relinquish his attachment to the established Church, in 
order to bring himself under the protection afforded by 
this Act : and on the other hand, if he be a Dissenter, 
he is protected by this Bill. The simple condition of 
protection is, that a Protestant do resort to some place of 
worship, which if not the only way, is .t lea^t the usual 
and overt manner of showing our belief in the exist- 
ence of the Deity, and in a future state of retribu- . 
tion ; without which, there is no security for the 
peace and happiness of society. To our Societies this 
feature of the Act is of great importance, because it 
allows our members to continue their attachment to the 
established Church, without relinquishing the privileges 
which the christian communion of our Societies so 
largely affords : As under the Toleration Act, so under 
this act, all places of worship must be c r rtified to the pro- 
per Court : but under this Act a Preacher need not wait 
till the place be registered before he preaches. By th& 



370 APPENDIX. 

former Acts only Jive Persons could meet together, besides 
a man's own family, without having the place registered; 
by this Act the number is extended to twenty persons 
who may meet without certifying the place of meeting. 
By the former Act, no person could preach till he had 
taken the Oaths ; by this Act, any person may preach 
without having taken the Oaths ; and is merely liable to 
be called on once to take them afterwards, if required 
in writing by one Justice. By the Toleration Acts, per- 
sons were obliged to go to the Quarter Sessions to take 
the Oaths ; by this Act any person may take them be- 
fore one Justice only; and in no case, is such person 
compellable to travel above jive miles for that purpose : so 
that it will be perfectly unnecessry for any of our 
Preachers or Teachers to take the Oaths until they are 
required by a Justice, unless our travelling Preachers, 
who carry on no business, and intend to claim exemp- 
tion from civil and military duties. By the new con- 
struction of the Toleration Act, it appeared that only 
particular persons could insist upon taking the Oaths, 
&c. by this Act any Protestant, whether preacher or 
otherwise, whether a Dissenter or a member of the 
Church of England, may require a Justice to administer 
the Oaths, &c. and grant a Certificate. 

As to the exemption from civil and military duties, 
they are about the same as to Preachers carrying on no 
business, except that the Toleration Act extended only 
to Dissenters, and this Act includes all Preachers as they 
were by the Toleration and new Militia Bills, whether 
Dissenters or not. By the Toleration Act, so by this, 
the doors of all places of worship are to be unlocked. 
In this Act you will observe a great and most beneficial 
alteration for the protection of religious assemblies. 
The Toleration Act did not provide for the punishment 
of riotous persons who did not come into the house, by 
which means many of our congregations were greatly 
disturbed by noises made on the outside; but by this Act, 
any person who shall wilfully and maliciously disturb a 
Congregation, (whether by coming into or being on the 
outside of the house) shall incur a penalty of 40/. which 
penalty is double the amount of that imposed for the 
&ame offence by the Ttleration Act* There is also an*- 



APPENDIX* o7^ 

Qther important advantage in this Act, which is, that 
the writ of Certiorari is not taken away, by which means, 
proceedings may be removed into the Court of King's 
Bench. 

Thus have we endeavoured to give you an outline of 
this important Act of the Legislature : an Act which, 
we trust, you and our friends will consider as clearly 
recognizing in practice, those great principles which 
are the bassis of religious freedom, and that its operation 
will not only enable our Societies to exercise, under the 
protection of the law, those privliges which they have 
ever considered the most sacred and invaluable, and 
which under the Divine blessing, have contributed to 
the consolation of thousands : but it will serve for the 
extension of piety and virtue amongst all denominations, 
by promoting christian fellowship, the dissemination of 
Divine truth, and the interchange of religious instruc- 
tion. And whilst it amply extends the circle of reli- 
gious liberty to those who dissent from, or who partially 
or occasionly conform to the established church, as well 
as to strict members of her communion, who wish to en- 
joy religious meetings, it will excite attachment to, and 
increase the security of that church, which has produced 
so many champions for the verities of our holy religion, 
and in which indeed, our Societies have been founded. 

Nor should it be forgotton, (especially in times like 
the present) that this Act is of peculiar excellency, from 
the effect it will have upon the happiness of the religions 
poor. They value exceedingly the liberty of associating 
for mutual religious instruction and consolation. It is 
the exercise of that privilege which soothes them un- 
der poverty and distress, and by the grace of God, makes 
them content under the apparently adverse dispensa- 
tions of divine providence ; and teaches them to wait 
with patience for the "inheritance which is incorruptible" 
This Act by removing all restraint from the performance 
of the great duty of " exhorting one another" may be 
considered as having the well-disposed and pious poor 
for its object, and great will be their gratitude and glad- 
ness, that they can, under the protection of this Law, 
worship God in their own way, and instruct each other, 
as well as hear those Ministers whose labours they es« 






372 APPENDIX. 






teem. And while it has this effect upon their individ- 
ual happiness, it will make them value the Constitution 
of the Country y through which they derive such benefits. 
In short, the Committee cannot but contemplate this 
important extension of Religious Freedom, with the 
highest satisfaction and delight; and they cannot doubt, 
that in proportion to the apparent excellency of this 
Act of Parliament, will be the magnitude of the bene- 
fits which the nation at large will derive from it. 

In the accomplishment of this salutary measure, the 
Committee have necessarily had much correspondence 
with the Prime Minister, the right honourable the Earl 
of Liverpool ; and it is a duty they owe to his Majesty's 
Government, and to that noble Lord in particular, to 
express with pleasure and gratitude the high sense of 
the obligations they feel themselves under, for the 
patient attention which his Lordship has given to the 
many and necessary representations of the Committee, 
as well as the readiness manifested to meet fully the 
situation of our societies, and of other religious denom- 
inations ; and for the cordiality with which his Lord- 
ship matured and supported the Bill in Parliament, 
which appears to be commensurate to the present neces- 
sities and wishes of ©ur Societies. 

The Committee are also under considerable obliga- 
tions to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, for his 
polite attc :rition to the subject, and for the liberal senti- 
ments expressed by his Grace, on various occasions : 
And we cannot but feel great gratitude to all the right 
reverend Prelates who concurred in the bill, without 
whose concurrence it must have met with considerable 
difficulties in its progress through Parliament. 

It is also the duty of the Committee, to express their 
humble thanks to the rest of the Cabinet Ministers, for 
the support which this measure has received from them, 
and particularly to the right honourable the Lord High 
Chancellor, for his Lordship's candid and liberal atten- 
tion to the Bill in the House of Lords ; and also to the 
right honourable Viscount Castlereagh, for the labour of 
conducting it in the douse of Commons. In these sen- 
timents of respect *md gratitude, we are sure we shall 
be joined by you, and our societies universally. 



APPENDIX. 373 

The Committee are happy to inform you, to whom 
they are under particular obligations, on this important 
occasion, that you may have the pleasure of participa- 
ting with them, in those sentiments which the sense of 
benefits received naturally inspire. They will there- 
fore mention, that they are greatly indebted to the 
Right Honourable Earl Stanhope, to the Right Honoura- 
ble Lord Holland, and to the Right Honourable Lord 
Erskinc, for their attention and support in the House of 
Peers ; and to William Wilberforce, Esq. James Stephen^ 
Esq. Samuel Whitehead, Esq. and Thomas Babington, 
Esq. Members of the House of Commons, from each ot 
whom the Committee have derived important services 
relative to this valuable Act. 

While endeavouring to express our gratitude upon 
this occasion, rather than pretending to discharge the 
debt which we owe to the distinguished characters we 
have mentioned, it is with great satisfaction we acknow- 
ledge the co-operation w r hich we Jiave experienced 
from " the Protestant Society for the Protection of Reli- 
gious Liberty" who represent the great body of Dissen- 
ters in this country, and from our affectionate friends 
the Quakers, with whom, as well as with other denomi- 
nations of Christians, we are happy to be associated 
in receiving benefit in the same friendly Act of the 
Legislature : we are sure this co-operation will increase 
your esteem for those respectable members of civil and 
religious society. 

In considering the many circumstances relative to 
the progress and completion of this excellent measure* 
we cannot but adore the providence and goodness of 
God, without whose direction and aid the work could 
not have been accomplished. And we would ascribe 
the glory, the honour, and power to Him, from whom 
alone all good councils and all just works do proceed. 
Our joy is great upon this interesting occasion % but how 
greatly would our pleasure have been enhanced, had 
this event witnessed the return of health to our gracious 
Sovereign, whose name must ever be associated with 
Religious Toleration : for his Majesty, in his first speech 
from the throne, declared it his invariable resolution to 
maintain the Toleration inviolate. A declaration which 

li 



$fA APPENDIX. 

has been religiously fulfilled during a long and benefi- 
cent reign. And should it please Divine Providence 
to restore his Majesty in health to his affectionate peo- 
ple, it would, we doubt not, afford him the highest grati- 
fication, that a measure so full of regard to the sacred 
rights of conscience, and so amply extending the bounds 
of Toleration, had been carried into effect under the 
liberal administration of his Royal Highness the Prince 
Regent. May it please God to smooth the bed of the 
Sovereign in his affliction, and endue the Prince plen- 
teously with heavenly gifts, and prosper him with all 
happiness. 

To conclude ; while on this memorable occasion, we 
express unfeigned gratitude to those who have rendered 
us assistance, let us not forget to give the sole glory to 
that God, *' by whom Kings reign, and Princes decree 
justice," let us continue to cultivate the most affection- 
ate regard for our King and our Country : let us pray for 
jnore grace, that we may use our extended religious priv- 
ileges to the greatest advantage, not only by provoking 
one another to love and to good works, but by labouring 
incessantly to diffuse those sacred truths of our most 
holy Religion, which we have long proved to be the 
power of God unto Salvation, to them who believe ; and 
thus promote Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth 
peace, and good will among men,T-*the great end for which 
qur Societies have: been established. 
We are, 

Dear Sir, 
Your affectionate Friends and Servants* 

(Signed) 

By Order and on behalf of the Committee* 
ADAM CLARKE, Chairman. 
JOSEPH BUTTERWORTH, Secretary, 



APPENDIX, 575 

An Actio repeal certain Acts, and amend other Acts, re* 
lating to Religious Worship and Assemblies, and Per- 
sons teaching or preaching therein. [29th July, 1812.] 
52 Geo. III. c. 155. 

Whereas it is expedient that certain Acts of Parlia- 
ment made in the reign of his late Majesty King Charles 
the Second, relating to Nonconformists and Conventi- 
cles, and refusing to take Oaths, should be repealed ; 
and that the laws relating to certain Congregations and 
Assemblies for religious Worship, and persons teaching, 
preaching, or officiating therein, and resorting thereto 
should be amended ; Be it therefore enacted, by the 
King's Most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and 
Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by 
the authority of the same, That from and after the pass- 
ing of this Act, an x\ct of Parliament made in the Session 
of Parliament held in the thirteenth and fourteenth 
years of his late Majesty King Charles the Second, en- 
titled, " An Act for preventing the mischiefs and dan- 
gers, that may arise by certain persons called Quakers, 
and others, refusing to take lawful Oaths," and another 
Act of Parliament made in the seventeenth year of the 
reign of his late Majesty King Charles the second, en* 
titled, " An Act for restraining Nonconformists from 
inhabiting in " Corporations ;" and another Act of Par- 
liament made in the twenty-second year of the reign of 
the late King Charles the second, entitled, "An Act to 
prevent and suppress Seditious Conventicles," shall be 
and the same are hereby repealed. 

II. And be it further enacted, That from and after the 
passing of this Act, no Congregation or Assembly for 
Religious Worship of Protestants (at which there shall 
be present more than twenty persons besides the imme- 
diate family and servants of the person in whose house 
or upon whose premises such Meeting, Congregation, or 
Assembly shall be had) shall be permitted or allowed, 
unless and until the place of such Meeting, if the same 
shall not have been duly certified and registered nnder 
any former Act or Acts of Parliament relating to regis- 
tering places of Religious Worship, shall have- been or 



Vt6 APPENDIX. 



shall be certified to the Bishop of the Diocese, 6r to the 
Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry, or to the Justices of 
the Peace at the General or Quarter Sessions of the 
Peace for the county, riding, division, city, town, or 
place, in which such Meeting shall be held ; and all pla- 
ces of Meeting which shall be so certified to the Bishop's 
©r Archdeacon's Court shall be returned by such court 
once in each year to the Quarter Sessions of the county, 
riding, division, city, town or place ; and all places of 
Meeting which shall be so certified to the Quarter Ses- 
sions of the Peace shall be also returned once in eacji 
year to the Bishop or Archdeacon ; and all such places 
shall be registered in the said Bishop's or Archdeacon's 
Court respectively, and recorded at the said General or 
Quarter Sessionjf ; the Register or Clerk of the Peace 
whereof respectively is hereby required to register and 
record the same; and the Bishop, or Register, or Clerk, 
of the Peace, to whom any such place of Meeting shall 
be certified under this Act, shall give a Certificate there- 
of to such person or persons as shall request or demand 
ihe same, for which there shall be no greater fee nor re- 
ward taken than two shillings and sixpence ; and every 
person who shall knowingly permit or suffer any such 
congregation or assembly as aforesaid, to meet in any 
place occupied by him, until the same shall have been so 
certified as aforesaid, shall forfeit for every time any 
such congregation or assembly shall meet contrary to 
the provisions of this Act, a sum not exceeding twenty 
pounds, nor less than twenty shillings, at the discretion 
of the Justices who shall convict for such offence. 

III. Provided always, and be it further enacted, 
That every person who shall teach or preach in any 
congregation or assembly as aforesaid, in any place 
without the consent of the occupier thereof, shall for- 
feit for every such offence any sum not exceeding thir- 
ty pounds, nor less than forty shillings, at the discretion 
of the Justices who shall convict for such offence. 

IV. And be it further enacted, That from and after 
the passing of this Act, every person who shall teach or 
preach at, or officiate in, or shall resort to any congre- 
gation or congregations, assembly or assemblies for re- 
ligious worship of Protestants., whose place of meeting 






APPEND rx-. 377 

shall be duly certified according to the provisions of 
this Act, or any other Act or Acts of Parliament relat- 
ing to the certifying and registering of places of religious 
worship, shall be exempt from all such pains and pen- 
alties under any other Act or Acts of Parliament rela- 
ting to religions worship, as any person who shall have 
takea the oaths and made the declaration prescribed by 
or mentioned in an Act, made in the first year of the 
reign of King William and Queen Mary, entitled, "An 
#i Act for exemtpihg their Majesties' Protestant subjects 
" dissenting from the Church of England, from the pen- 
" alties of certain Laws," or any Act amending the said 
Act, is by law exempt, as fully and effectually as if all 
such pains and penalties, and the several Acts enforcing 
the same, were recited in this Act, and such exemptions 
as aforesaid *were severally and separately enacted in 
relation thereto, 

V. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That 
every person not having taken the oaths, and subscribed 
the declaration herein after specified, who shall preach 
or teach at any place of religious worship certified in 
pursuance of the directions of this Act, shall, when 
thereto required by any one Justice of the Peace, by any 
writing under his hand, or signed by him, take, and 
make, and subscribe, in the presence of such Justice of 
the Peace, the oaths and declaration specified and con- 
tained in an Act, passed in the nineteenth year of the 
reign of His Majesty King George the Third, entitled> 
" An Act for the further relief of Protestent dissenting 
ministers and schoolmasters f and no such person who, 
upon being so required to take such oaths and make such 
declaration as aforesaid, shall refuse to attend the Jus- 
tice requiring the same, or to take, and make, and sub- 
scribe such oaths and declaration as aforesaid, shall be 
thereafter permitted or allowed to teach or preach in 
any such congregation or assembly for religious worship, 
until he shall have taken such oaths, and made such de- 
claration as aforesaid, on pain of forfeiting for every 
time he shall so teach or preach, any sum not exceeding 
ten pounds, nor less than ten shillings, at the discretion 
of the Justice convicting for such offence. 

VI. Provided always, and be it further enacted, 

si 2 



378 APPENDIX* 

That no person shall be required by any Justice of the 
Peace k) go to any greater distance than five miles from 
bis own home, or from the place where he shall be re- 
siding at the time of such requisition, for the purpose 
of taking such Oaths as aforesaid. 

VII. And be it further enacted, That it shall be law- 
ful for any of his Majesty's Protestant subjects to ap- 
pear before any one Justice of the Peace, and to pro* 
duce to such Justice of the Peace a printed or written 
copy of the said Oaths and Declaration, and to require 
such Justice to administer such Oaths, and to tender 
such Declaration to be made, taken and subscribed 
by such Person ; and thereupon it shall be lawful for 
auch Justice, and he is hereby authorized and required 
to administer such Oaths, and to tender such Declara- 
tion to the person requiring to take, and make, and 
subscribe the same; and such person shall take and make 
and subscribe such oaths and declaration in the presence 
of such Justice accordingly; and such Justice shall 
attest the same to be sworn before him, and shall trans- 
mit or deliver the same to the Clerk of the Peace for 
the county, riding, division, city, town, or place, for 
which he shall act as such Justice of the peace, before 
or at the next General or Quarter Sessions of the Peace 
for such county, riding, division, city, town, or place. 

VIII. And be it further enacted, That every Justice 
of the Peace, before whom any person shall make, and 
take, and subscribe such Oaths and Declaration as 
aforesaid, shall forthwith give to the Person having ta- 
ken, made, and subscribed such Oaths and Declaration, 
a Certificate thereof under the hand of such Justice, in 
the form following : (that is to say) 

" I A. B. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace 
" fqr the county (riding, division, city, or town, or 
" place, as the case vmy be) of Do hereby 

** certify, That C. J), of, &c. [describing the Christian 
" ' and Surname , and place of abode of the party'] did 
** this day appear before me, and did make, and take. 
" and subscribe the several Oaths and Declaration 
u specified in an Act, made in the fifty-second year 
w pf the reign of King George the Third, entitled. 

[Set forth the title of this Act.] Witness my hand 
* this day of one thousand eight hundred 



APPENDIX. 379 

* and And for the making and beginning of 

which Certificate, where the said Oaths and Declara- 
tion are taken and made on the requisition of the par- 
ty taking and making the same, such Justice shall be 
entitled to demand and have a fee of two shillings and 
sixpence, and no more : And such certificate shall be 
conclusive evidence that the party named therein has 
made and taken the Oaths, and subscribed the Declar- 
ation in manner required by this Act 

IX. And be it further enacted, That every person 
who shall teach or preach in any such congregation or 
assembly, or congregations or assemblies as aforesaid, 
who shall employ himself solely in the duties of a 
teacher or preacher, and not follow or engage in any 
trade or business, or other profession, occupation or em- 
ployment, for his livelihood, except that of a schoolmas- 
ter, and who shall produce a Certificate of some Justice 
of the Peace, and of his having taken, and made, and 
subscribed the Oaths and Declaration aforesaid, shall 
be exempt from the civil services and offices specified 
in the said recited Act passed in the first year of King 
William and Queen Mary, and from being balloted to 
serve and from serving in the militia or local militia of 
any county, town, parish, or place in any part of the 
United Kingdom. 

X. And be it further enacted. That every person who 
shall produce any false or untrue certificate or paper, as 
and for a true certificate of his having made and taken 
the Oaths and subscribed the Declaration by this Act 
required, for the purpose of claiming any exemption 
from civil or military duties as aforesaid, under the pro- 
visions of this or any other Act or Acts of Parliament* 
shall forfeit for every such offence the sum of fifty 
pounds ; which penalty may be recovered by and to 
the use of any person who will sue for the same, by an 
Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or Information, in any of 
His Majesty's Courts of Record at Westminister, or 
the Courts of Great Sessions in Wales, or the Courts of 
the counties palatine of Chester, Lancaster, and Dur- 
ham (as the case shall require ;) wherein no Ensign, 
Privilege, Protection, or Wager of Law, or more than 
ene Imparlance, shall be allowed, 



380 APPENDIX* 

XL And be it further enacted, That no meeting, as* 
sembly, or congregaton of persons for religious worship, 
shall be had in any place with the door locked, bolted, 
or barred, or otherwise fastened, so as to prevent any 
person entering therein during the time of any such 
meeting, assembly, or congregation; and the person 
teaching or preaching at such meeting, assembly, or 
congregation, shall forfeit, for every time any such mee- 
ting, assembly, or congregation shall be held with the 
door locked, bolted or barred, or otherwise fastened as 
aforesaid, any sum not exceeding twenty pounds, nor 
less than forty shillings, at the discretion of the Justi- 
ces convicting for such offence. 

XII. And be it further enacted, That if any person 
or persons, at any time after the passing of this Act, do, 
and shall wilfully and maliciously, or contemptuously 
disquiet or disturb any meeting, assembly, or congrega- 
tion of persons assembled for religious worship, permitted 
or authorised by this Act, or any former Act or Acts of 
Parliament, or shall in any way disturb, molest, or mis- 
use any preacher, teacher, or person officiating at such 
meeting, assembly, or congregation, or any person or 
persons there assembled, such person or persons so of- 
fending, upon proof thereof before any Justice of the 
Peace by two or more credible witnesses, shall find two 
sureties to be bound by recognizances in the penal sum 
of fifty pounds to answer for such offence, and in default 
of such sureties shall be committed to prison, there to 
remain till the next General or Quarter Sessions; and 
upon conviction of the said offence at the said General 
or Quarter Sessions, shall suffer the pain and penalty 
of forty pounds. 

XIII. Provided always, and be it further enacted., 
that nothing in this act contained shall affect, or be 
construed to affect the celebration of divine service, ac- 
cording to the rites and ceremonies of the united church 
of England and Ireland, by ministers of the said church, 
in any place hitherto used for such purpose, or being 
now or hereafter duly consecrated or licensed by any 
Archbishop or Bishop, or other person lav/ fully author- 
ized to consecrate or license the same, or to affect the 
Jurisdiction of the Archbishops or Bishops, or other 



AFPJBKBIX. 581 

persons exercising lawful authority in the Church of the 
United Kingdom, over the said Church, according to the 
Rules and discipline of the same, and to the Laws and 
Statutes of the Realm ; but such jurisdiction shall remain 
and continue as if this Act had not passed. 

XIV. Provided also, and be it further enacted, That 
nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be con- 
strued to extend to the People usually called Quakers, 
nor to any Meetings or Assemblies for Religious Wor- 
ship, held or convened by such persons ; or in any man- 
ner to alter, or repeal or affect any Act other than and 
except the Acts passed in the reign of King Charles 
the Second herein before repealed, relating to the peo- 
ple called Quakers, or relating to any assemblies or 
meeting for religious worship held by them. 

XV. And be it further enacted, That every persoa 
guilty of any offence, for which any pecuniary penalty 
or forfeiture is imposed by this Act, in respect of which 
no special provision is made, shall and may be convict- 
ed thereof by information upon the oath of any one or 
more credible witness or witnesses, before any two or 
more Justices of the Peace acting in and for the county, 
riding, city or place wherein such offence shall be com- 
mitted ; and that all and every the pecuniary penalties 
or forfeitures which shall be incurred or become payable 
for any offence or offences against this Act, shall and 
may be levied by distress under the hand and seal or 
hands and seals of two Justices of the Peace for the 
county, riding, city, or place, in which any such offence 
or offences was or were committed, or where the for- 
feiture, or forfeitures was or were incurred, and shall 
when levied be paid one moiety to the informer, and 
the other moiety to the poor of the parish in which 
the offence was committed; and in case of no suffi- 
cient distress whereby to levy the penalties, or any or 
either of them imposed by this Act, it shall and may be 
lawful for any such Justices respectively before whom 
the offender or offenders shall be convicted, to commit 
such offender to prison, for such time not exceeding 
three months, as the said Justices in their discretion 
shall think fit. 

XVI. And be it further enacted, That in case any 
person or persons who shall hereafter be convicted of 



382 APPENDIX. 

any of the offences punishable by this Act, shall con- 
ceiVe him, her or themselves to be aggrieved by such 
conviction, then and in every such case it shall and may 
be lawful for such person or persons respectively, and 
and he, she, or they, shall or may appeal to the General 
or Quarter Sessions of the Peace holden next after such 
conviction in and for the county, riding, city or place, 
giving unto the Justices before whom such conviction 
shall be made, notice in writing within eight days after 
any such conviction, of his, her, or their intention to 
prefer such Appeal ; and the said Justices in their said 
General or Quarter Sessions shall and may, and they 
are hereby authorized and empowered to proceed to the 
Bearing and determination of the matter of such Appeal, 
and to make such order therein, and to award such costs 
to be paid by and to either party, not exceeding forty 
shillings, as they in their discretion shall think fit. 

XVII. And be it further enacted, that no penalty or 
forfeiture shall be recoverable under this Act, unless the 
same shall be sued for, or the offence in respect of which 
the same is imposed, is prosecuted before the Justices of 
Peace or Quarter Sessions within six months after the 
offence shall have been committed ; and no person who 
shall suffer any imprisonment for non payment of any 
penalty, shall thereafter be liable to the payment of such 
penalty or forfeiture. 

XVIII. And be it further enacted, That if any Ac- 
tion or Suit shall be brought or commenced against any 
person or persons for any thing done in pursuance of this 
Act, that every such Action or Suit shall be commenced 
within three months next after the fact committed, and 
not afterwards, and shall be laid and brought in the 
county wherein the cause or alleged cause of Action 
shall have accrued, and not elsewhere ; and the defend- 
ant or defendants in such Action or Suit may plead the 
General Issue, and give this Act and the special matter 
in evidence on any Trial to be had thereupon, and that 
th'e same was done in pursuance and by authority of this 
Act ; and if it shall appear so to be done, or if any such 
Action or Suit shall be brought after the time so limited 
for bringing the same, or shall be brought in any other 
county, city or place, that then and in such case, tlfe 



APPENDIX. 383 

Jury shall find for such defendant or defendants ; and 
upon such verdict, or if the plaintiff or plaintiffs shall be- 
come nonsuited, or discontinue his, her, or their Action 
or Actions, or if a verdict shall pass against the plaintiff 
or plaintiffs, or if upon demurrer, judgment shall be 
given against the plaintiff or plaintiffs, the defendant 
or defendants shall have and may recover treble costs 
and have the like remedy for the same, as any defend- 
ant or defendants hath or have for costs of Suit in other 
cases by Law. 

XIX. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall 
be deemed and taken to be a Public Act, and shall be 
judically taken notice of as such by all Judges, Justices^ 
and others, without specially pleading the same. 



FINIS. 



The following BOOKS are published under the patronage, and 
for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Churchy in the United 
States of Amenca 9 and to be had of Daniel Hitt and Tho- 
mas Wake, JYb. 192 comer of Church and White streets, New- 
York, Superintendents of the Book Business for the said Me- 
thodist Church, and of the Methodist Ministers and Preachers \ 
in their several Circuits. 

Coke's Commentary on the New-Testament, 2 vols. g>20 

Wesley's Notes on do. 2 vols, in 1, 3 

Wesley's Sermons, 9 vols. 6 50 

Wood's Dictionary of the Bible, 2 vols-. 5 

Fletcher's Checks, 6 vols. ... „ - 5 

Benson's Life of Fletcher, , „ * - „ 1 

Portraiture of Methodism ----- 1 

Experience of several eminent Methodist Preachers,"? * 

a new and enlarged edition, 3 
The experience and ministerial labours of several em- 7 + 

inent Methodist Preachers, 3 

The Saint's Everlasting Rest, 1 

Methodist Hymns, two books bound together, - ST J. 

Experience and Letters of Hester Ann Rogers, - 75 

Law's Serious Call to a Holy Life, - 75 
Fletcher's Appeal to Matter of Fact and Common Sense, 75 

Abbott's Life, ------- 75 

Alleine's Allarm and Baxter's Call, - 50 

Family Adviser and Primitive Physic, - 50 

Methodist Discipline, -.---. 37X 

Extract from John Nelson's Journal, - - - 37$ 

Watters's Life, -.--»-. 37i 

Confessions of James Lackington, - 25 

Truth Vindicated, I 31$ 

Thomas A Kempis, or Christian's Pattern J - 31 J 

Mrs. Rowe's Devout Exercises, abridged, - 25 

A Scriptural Catechism, - - - 6& 

As the profits of the above mentioned Books are for tht 
benefit of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United 
States, and to be applied to religious purposes, it is recom- 
mended to the Ministers and Members of the said Church to 
promote the sale of the said Books; and not to purchase any 
Books which we publish, of any other persons than the afore- 
said Daniel Hitt and Thomas Ware, and the Methodist Min- 
isters and Preachers, or such persons as sell them by thek 
consent. 



UWJl.78 



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